Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

Due to the extent of the demand on the Department's capital programme, the Minister is not in a position to indicate a timeframe as to when the project will be approved to proceed but a band two rating is the second highest band rating possible and this means that the project is well positioned to advance once the requisite funding is available.

The Minister wants to assure the Deputy that the Department is fully committed to ensuring that the current difficulties at Hedgestown national school are addressed as expeditiously as possible. The Department will also continue to consider the advancement of the large scale large scale building project for the school under the school modernisation and building programme.

Once again I thank Deputy Reilly for providing me with the opportunity to address the House on this matter and to outline the current position.

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