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Schools Building Projects.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004

Tuesday, 23 March 2004

Ceisteanna (230, 231, 232, 233)

Olwyn Enright

Ceist:

230 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the stage the application for a new school (details supplied) in County Clare is at; the reason for the delay in the provision of the new school; if he intends it to proceed by public private partnership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8526/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

An application has been received in my Department for building works at Ennis national school. The project is at the pre-architectural planning stage. When publishing the 2004 school building programme, I outlined that my strategy going forward will be grounded in capital investment based on multi-annual allocations. My officials are reviewing all projects which were not authorised to proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme, with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual school building programme from 2005. I expect to be in a position to make further announcements in the course of the year to update schools in the context of the multi-annual programme of works including public-private partnerships. The application from Ennis national school will be considered in this regard.

Olwyn Enright

Ceist:

231 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if funding has been made available to upgrade the science facilities at a school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8527/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

My Department has not received a specific application for the refurbishment of science laboratories at the school in question. However, there is a proposed large-scale building project for this school listed in section 8 of the 2004 school building programme which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. The proposed works include an extension and refurbishment works to the existing school. As part of this project, it is proposed to address the service requirements in the science laboratories. This proposed project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning and has been assigned a band 2 rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects.

Indicative timescales have been included for large-scale projects proceeding to tender in 2004. The budget announcement regarding multi-annual capital envelopes will enable me to adopt a multi-annual framework for the school building programme which, in turn, will give greater clarity regarding projects that are not progressing in this year's programme. I will make a further announcement in that regard during the year.

Olwyn Enright

Ceist:

232 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to an application for an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8528/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The proposed large-scale building project for Rice College, Ennis, is listed in section 8 of the 2004 school building programme which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. This proposed project is at advanced architectural planning. It has been assigned a band 2 rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects.

Indicative timescales have been included for large-scale projects proceeding to tender in 2004. The budget announcement regarding multi-annual capital envelopes will enable me to adopt a multi-annual framework for the school building programme which, in turn, will give greater clarity regarding projects that are not progressing in this year's programme. I will make a further announcement in that regard during the year.

Olwyn Enright

Ceist:

233 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the meaning of fast tracking a project through the school building programme; the number of projects that have been told they will be fast tracked; the method to be adopted by him to do this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8529/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The various stages of architectural planning for large-scale building projects are set out in the frequently asked questions, FAQ, section of the 2004 school building programme which is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

While most of the projects in the 2004 school building programme are at an advanced stage of architectural planning, there are over 15 projects in the very early stages of architectural planning that are earmarked for progression through architectural planning and on to construction as part of the programme.

These projects mainly arise in rapidly developing areas and are listed in the programme as part of my Department's response to meeting urgent demand for school places in these areas. To meet the indicative timescales set out in the programme, my Department is using innovative methods to deliver these projects, including a design and build contract, combining of stages of architectural planning for projects, generic designs and various forms of devolved authority.

The expansion of the devolved initiatives that were introduced in 2003 to over 90 further projects enables these schools to progress their projects themselves through architectural planning and on to construction without reference to my Department.

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