Olwyn Enright
Ceist:348 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science when a school (details supplied) in County Longford will be advanced to stage four; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6839/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 1 March 2005
Ceisteanna (291, 292)
Freagraí scríofa
An application for refurbishment has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. This application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which were revised following consultation with the education partners. Progress on this project is being considered in the context of the school building programme.
In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that on 10 January this year, I announced the first phase of the 2005 school building programme, which provided details of 122 major school building projects that will prepare tenders and move to construction during 2005. The Deputy will also be aware that last week I announced details of an expansion of the number of schools that will be invited to deliver their building projects on the basis of devolved funding.
These announcements form part of a series of announcements I plan to make in the coming period relating to the schools building and modernisation programme, which will include details of schools with projects approved under the 2005 summer works scheme; schools whose projects will further progress through the design process; schools that will be authorised to commence architectural planning; and details of schools identified as suitable for construction under public private partnerships.
Beverley Flynn
Ceist:349 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Science if she is in a position to allocate funding for the building of a new entrance to a college (details supplied) in County Mayo. [6840/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI announced the end of the freeze on third level capital funding when I gave immediate approval for key projects in the third level sector in November 2004. The projects selected have been identified as being of a high national priority and include a number of new facilities to support the provision of additional health skills places and the expansion of teacher training places. I also announced the re-introduction of a devolved grant scheme for minor capital works in the institutes of technology sector. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the institute referred to received funding under the scheme.
These announcements are the first steps in the process of addressing the infrastructural deficit in the third level sector. Many further higher education projects were recommended for funding in the Kelly report, including projects at the institute in question. I will consider how best to advance a number of these projects in the context of the capital envelope of funding available.
The institute included the project referred to by the Deputy in its submission to the capital review group. The project was not recommended as a major capital project for funding in the Kelly report. However, the institute has received funding under the devolved grant scheme for minor capital works. If the institute is satisfied that the project commands a sufficiently high priority, commensurate with the level of funding available to it under the devolved scheme, it is open to the Institute to proceed with this project using funding from this source.