Billy Timmins
Ceist:196 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15039/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 15 June 2011
Ceisteanna (184)
Freagraí scríofa
The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and was assigned a band 1 rating. Enrolments at the school have remained fairly static over the past number of years and the school has not experienced the rapid increase in enrolments that was anticipated and that has occurred in other schools around the county. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme with due regard to the level of additional school provision which will be required at both primary and post primary level to meet demographic increases. In light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including the project referred to by the Deputy, is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie.