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Schools Building Projects.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004

Wednesday, 29 September 2004

Ceisteanna (321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330)

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

494 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give the up to date situation concerning the provision of a new primary school at Coralstown, County Westmeath. [22152/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The building project for Coralstown national school, County Westmeath is listed in section 8 of the 2004 school building programme which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. This project has a band 2 rating and is at stage 3 — developed sketch scheme — of architectural planning. My Department’s technical staff are currently examining the stage 3 documentation and the school authorities will be kept advised of developments.

My Department's officials are also currently reviewing all projects that were not authorised to proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme, including Coralstown national school, with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual school building programme from 2005. I expect to make further announcements in this regard before the end of the year.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

495 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the position concerning proposed new school (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [22153/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The school referred to by the Deputy accepted an invitation to participate in a devolved initiative contained in the 2004 school building programme. This enables the school authority to provide additional permanent accommodation with a maximum grant level of €350,000. The initiative operates on a devolved basis and allows boards of management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives boards control over the pace at which building works proceed. Currently, the board of management is awaiting planning permission and fire certification for its building project.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

496 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirm that an application for additional classroom space had been made to his Department for a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will give the projected timescale for the commencement of works at this school. [22154/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The school referred to by the Deputy is on the school building programme for 2004 for a single classroom extension, ancillary accommodation and refurbishment. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that construction work recently began on this project.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

497 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress been made in providing additional science laboratories and other facilities at a school (details supplied), Mullingar; and if he will give a progress report on this application. [22155/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

A building project for Loreto College, Mullingar includes the provision of additional science laboratories and is listed in section 9 of the 2004 school building programme published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. This project has a band 2 rating and is at early stages of architectural planning. My Department’s officials are currently reviewing all projects that were not authorised to proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme, including Loreto College, Mullingar, with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual school building programme from 2005. I expect to make further announcements in this regard before the end of the year.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

498 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress been made regarding the proposed extension to a school (details supplied), County Westmeath; if an application has been received; the stage which this development is at; the estimated completion date for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22156/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

I have previously announced my intention to publish for the first time ever a multi-annual school building programme. My officials are nearing completion of a review of all projects in line with the revised prioritisation criteria which resulted from consultation with the partners. The purpose of the review is to enable and inform a multi-annual approach to the school building programme. I expect to provide details of this multi-annual programme before the end of the current year.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

499 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress made to date regarding an application for an extension to a school (details supplied), County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22157/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The building project for Clonmellon national school, County Westmeath is listed in section 8 of the 2004 school building programme which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. This project has a band 2 rating and is at stage 3 — developed sketch scheme — of architectural planning. My Department’s officials recently wrote to the school authorities requesting additional information on their stage 3 submission and a response is awaited.

My Department's officials are currently reviewing all projects which were not authorised to proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme including Clonmellon national school with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual school building programme from 2005. I expect to make further announcements in this regard before the end of the year.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

500 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress being made regarding the proposed extension to a school (details supplied), Athlone, County Westmeath. [22158/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

I have previously announced my intention to publish, for the first time ever, a multi-annual school building programme. My officials are nearing completion of a review of all projects in line with the revised prioritisation criteria that resulted from consultation with the social partners. The purpose of the review is to enable and inform a multi-annual approach to the school building programme. I expect to provide details of the multi-annual programme before the end of the current year.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

501 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress being made regarding an application for improvement works and additional classroom space at a school (details supplied), County Westmeath. [22159/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

I have previously announced my intention to publish, for the first time ever, a multi-annual school building programme. My officials are nearing completion of a review of all projects in line with the revised prioritisation criteria that resulted from consultation with the social partners. The purpose of the review is to enable and inform a multi-annual approach to the school building programme. I expect to provide details of the multi-annual programme before the end of the current year.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

502 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress being made regarding additional classrooms and improvements works at a school (details supplied), Kinnegad, County Westmeath. [22160/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

A building project for St. Etchen's national school, Kinnegad, County Westmeath is listed in section 9 of the 2004 school building programme which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. This project has a band 2 rating and is at early stages of architectural planning. My Department’s officials recently wrote to the school authorities requesting them to submit a stage 1/2/3 submission and a response is awaited.

My Department's officials are currently reviewing all projects that were not authorised to proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme, including St. Etchen's national school, with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual school building programme from 2005. I expect to make further announcements in this regard before the end of the year.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

503 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress being made regarding an application for improvement works or a new school at a school (details supplied), Kilbeggan, County Westmeath. [22161/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Historically, key decisions on educational provision have tended to be taken without any reference to the public at large. My decision to publish an annual school building programme has reinforced my strongly held conviction that all key decisions relating to educational infrastructure should be made in an open and transparent manner. For this reason, earlier this year, I introduced a new planning model for educational infrastructure with the aim of ensuring that in future school provision will be decided only after a transparent consultation process. In this regard, trustees, parents, sponsors of prospective schools and all interested parties from a locality will have the opportunity to have their voices heard in the process.

The main feature of the new planning model is the publication of area development plans which will set out a blueprint for school development in an area into the future. In June, I published the draft plan for the area around the N4-M4 route from Leixlip to Kilcock, including Celbridge and Maynooth and from Enfield through to Kilbeggan including Longwood, Edenderry and Killucan. Full details of the draft plan are available from my Department's website at www.education.ie. Integral components of draft area development plans are details of existing primary and post primary provision, a drawing together and examination of the demographics of the area and other relevant factors and commentary on the data, recommendations for educational infrastructural provision in an area into the future. The commission on school accommodation is currently conducting a public engagement process to which all interested parties can make submissions. All submissions will be published. The process will culminate in the publication of a final development plan for the area against which all capital funding decisions will be made over the next decade.

I am confident that this ground breaking approach to school planning will provide a mechanism to ensure that capital funding is allocated in a structured and clearly identifiable manner into the future. Most importantly, all of the stakeholders in education will have the opportunity of having their voices heard to make the education of our children the all-inclusive process it should be.

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