Schools Building Projects.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 April 2006

Tuesday, 4 April 2006

Ceisteanna (502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519)

Cecilia Keaveney

Ceist:

530 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science when works will commence at a college (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13427/06]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The proposed extension project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning and is one of the 124 schools that I announced in April 2005 to progress through the architectural planning process.

An educational worksheet was returned to my Department in December 2005 and following this a schedule of overall accommodation was completed by a member of my Department's inspectorate. In February this year my Department's officials visited the school in question and schedules of suggested future use of the existing accommodation, with a schedule of residual accommodation, were completed.

On 20 March a letter issued to the school authorities with the revised schedules requesting them to get their design team to revise the original stage 1 as presented to the Department in October 2001 to reflect the impact of the revised schedules. When this information is forwarded to my Department, my officials will be in further contact with the school authorities as to the next steps involved in progressing this project. Progression of projects to construction will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme for 2006 to 2010.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

531 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress to date in the case of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13478/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school in question was authorised to proceed to stages 4-5 — planning permission, fire certification, bill of quantities and tender documentation — of architectural planning on 14 March.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

532 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if the legalities associated with the site transfer in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare are concluded; if the way is now clear for the project to proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13479/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

This project will be in a position to progress when the legalities associated with the transfer of the site from the local authority have been concluded. This is not yet the case.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

533 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when the issues raised by the Chief State Solicitor will be fully addressed to enable a project (details supplied) in County Kildare to proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13480/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

As the Deputy is aware, a number of queries were raised by the Chief State Solicitor's office regarding a site acquisition for the school in question. A response to these queries has been received and is being examined by the Chief State Solicitor's office.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

534 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she expects to determine a priority position in respect of the application for major capital funding received in her Department in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if she intends this project to proceed further in the current year; if so, to what extent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13481/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

539 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she expects to determine a priority position in respect of the application for major capital funding received in her Department in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if she intends this project to proceed further in the current year; if so, to what extent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13486/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

540 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she expects to determine a priority position in respect of the application for major capital funding received in her Department in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if she intends this project to proceed further in the current year; if so, to what extent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13487/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

541 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she expects to determine a priority position in respect of the application for major capital funding received in her Department in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if she intends this project to proceed further in the current year; if so, to what extent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13488/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

542 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she expects to determine a priority position in respect of the application for major capital funding received in her Department in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if she intends this project to proceed further in the current year; if so, to what extent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13489/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

543 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she expects to determine a priority position in respect of the application for major capital funding received in her Department in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if she intends this project to proceed further in the current year; if so, to what extent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13490/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

544 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she expects to determine a priority position in respect of the application for major capital funding received in her Department in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if she intends this project to proceed further in the current year; if so, to what extent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13491/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

545 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she expects to determine a priority position in respect of the application for major capital funding received in her Department in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if she intends this project to proceed further in the current year; if so, to what extent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13492/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

546 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she expects to determine a priority position in respect of the application for major capital funding received in her Department in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if she intends this project to proceed further in the current year; if so, to what extent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13493/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

549 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she expects to determine a priority position in respect of the application for major capital funding received in her Department in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if she intends this project to proceed further in the current year; if so, to what extent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13533/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 534, 539 to 546, inclusive, and 549 together.

The school planning section of my Department has received applications for major capital funding from the management authorities of the schools to which the Deputy refers. The applications have been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects. Progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

535 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if examination by her Department’s technical staff has concluded in the case of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare for the provision of extra facilities; when this project is likely to proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13482/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

This project will be in a position to progress when the legalities associated with the transfer of the site from the local authority have been concluded. This is not yet the case.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

536 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the degree of priority accorded to the application for capital funding in the matter of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if she has issued particular instructions in respect of the issue; if she expects the project to proceed in early date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13483/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The school planning section of my Department has received an application for major capital funding from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale projects. Progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

537 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which her Department has progressed the proposed extension of facilities at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13484/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a letter issued to the school authorities on 16 March 2006 giving approval to proceed to stage 3 — detailed plans and costs — of architectural planning.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

538 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when she expects the proposed works involved in the extension of facilities at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare to commence; when she expects the project to conclude; when she expects same to be ready for occupation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13485/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

My Department is endeavouring to resolve the outstanding issues associated with the award of the contract and is confident that outstanding matters will be sorted out shortly. Until negotiations are concluded with the lowest tenderer it is not possible to give an exact commencement date for the project but at the very latest it will be completed in time for the academic year 2007-08.

Questions Nos. 539 to 546, inclusive, answered with Question No. 534.