I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding for a building project at Cahergal, Tuam, County Galway, is being provided as part of the 2004 school building programme.
This funding is being provided under a pilot initiative, which provides funding for boards of management to enable them address their accommodation needs without recourse to my Department. Boards of management control the rate of progression of their individual building projects.
In addition to the above, the property management section of the OPW, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, is currently exploring the possibility of acquiring a site to facilitate the new development at Cahergal national school.
Due to the commercial sensitivities of site acquisitions, it is not proposed at this stage to identify specific sites to be acquired. However, this information will be placed on my Department's website when the relevant acquisitions have been completed.