The major capital project referred to by the Deputy is listed in the recently announced Five Year Construction Programme to commence construction in 2015/16. The brief for the project will provide a new 16-classroom school and a two-classroom special needs unit on the existing site. The project is currently at an early stage of architectural planning and was approved to commence Stage 2a — Developed Sketch Design in late January 2012.
As I outlined at the time of my announcement of the five year programme, the criteria for selection for inclusion on the list were as follows:
Major school projects, including special schools, which will provide for significant additional capacity to meet demographic growth with a focus on rapidly developing areas, have been prioritised. Where a demographic demand has been identified, the need to provide for diversity in school provision has been taken into account.
The level of contractual commitments related to expenditure in any given year.
The stage of progression reached by each individual project in the architectural design process, including the availability of sites in the case of new schools. In that regard, the scheduling of selected projects depends also on when such projects are technically ready to proceed to tender and construction.
Additional accommodation to meet demographic growth and where the project also involves replacement of temporary or unsatisfactory accommodation.