School Accommodation.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 July 2008

Thursday, 10 July 2008

Ceisteanna (628)

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

626 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirm that his Department approached the board of management of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare regarding increasing the size of the school to a 24-classroom school; when this occurred; if he will restate that the new Educate Together school in Maynooth will not affect the moving forward of this project; and the reason a design team has not been appointed for this project in view of the necessity for the additional classrooms. [28511/08]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe)

As part of the Programme for Government, a Developing Areas Unit was set up recently in my Department to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas, including Maynooth. The main emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in these developing areas, as well as delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country.

In this context, the status of all schools in Maynooth is being assessed. The school referred to by the Deputy is being included in this assessment.

As is the case with all large capital projects currently on hand within the Unit, their progression will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.