Schools Building Projects.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2004

Wednesday, 15 December 2004

Ceisteanna (216)

Olwyn Enright

Ceist:

230 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science when she intends to progress the building application of a school (details supplied) in County Cork; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that her Department’s proposal includes converting two existing classrooms into the new laboratory without replacing these classrooms, taking a third classroom to form part of the arts room without replacement and that the tiered lecture room proposed is one third too small to take any group for demonstration talks or meeting; if her attention has been further drawn to its concern regarding the small allocation of space for student lockers; if she will re-examine this without delaying the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33616/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The application for an extension at the school to which the Deputy refers is being considered as part of a review of all projects which did not proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme. All projects are being assessed against the published prioritisation criteria, revised earlier this year following consultation with the education partners. Each project will be assigned a band rating and the progress of all projects will be considered in the context of the school building programme from 2005 onwards. I will be making further announcements on the school building programme in due course. Officials of my Department's school planning section are in correspondence with the school authority on the specific issues raised by the Deputy regarding the schedule of proposed accommodation for the school.