Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

I apologise for interrupting the Deputy, but I want to clarify that 29 November 2006 was just a year and two months ago. I shall endeavour to clarify where we have come from as regards this project.

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity of outlining to the House the position of the Department of Education and Science regarding the provision of new premises for the school in question. It is proposed to build a new ten-classroom school based on an existing design that was previously used in the provision of a school elsewhere. Initially there were problems with the site acquisition and this delayed the progress of the project in applying for planning permission. Planning permission and a fire certificate has now been obtained and the tender documentation is currently being finalised.

Under the national development plan there is €4.5 billion assigned to the capital requirements of the primary and post-primary sectors. Just under €600 million will be spent this year on school buildings. The progression of all large-scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase is considered on an ongoing basis in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme in which the main focus is to deliver school places within rapidly developing areas. The progression of the school in question, as with all large-scale projects, will be considered in this context.

Last week, as the Deputy said, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, announced the details of the large-scale building projects to commence construction over the next number of months. It is the Minister's intention to make a further announcement after Easter to allow a further batch of schools to commence construction and to update progress on the new schools planned for delivery in September 2008 in developing areas.

I would like to give the assurance that the Minister and her Department are committed to providing suitable, high-quality accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy at the earliest possible date.

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