John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

This information has been circulated to all existing school patrons who have been invited to bring forward proposals for the expansion of existing schools or indeed to put themselves forward as patron for any new primary school, should it be required. The requirement for the establishment of new schools will be lessened where it is possible to expand and extend existing schools in those areas. All of these factors will inform the Department's building programme for 2010 and subsequent years.

The project for JFK Memorial national school, to which the Deputy refers, is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. As the Deputy pointed out, the school applied for large-scale capital funding for an extension-refurbishment project. However, due to the extent of additional accommodation needed and the condition of the existing school building, a decision was taken to provide a new school. The project has been assigned a band 2.4 rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects. I acknowledge that the Deputy informed the Department on 8 October of the need to revisit the band rating. Recently, the school has sought a review of this band rating and this matter is under consideration by the Department. I confirm that the meeting referred to by the Deputy will take place in Tullamore on Thursday, 26 November. The briefing is intended to fully inform the school and its design team what is required to bring the school to stage 2(b) approval and to assist them in reaching this stage without delay. For the record, stage 2(b) is the precursor to approval to go to tender. Bringing the project for JFK Memorial national school to stage 2b approval will allow it to be considered for advancement to tender and construction when the opportunity arises and resources permit.

I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate that the progression of all large-scale building projects, including the project for JFK Memorial national school, is dependent on prioritisation of the competing demands on the Department's capital budget. The project will be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme for 2010 and subsequent years. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible at this time to give an indicative timeframe for delivery of the project. The meeting proposed for 26 November should move the project on considerably.

I again thank the Deputy for raising the matter and assure him that the Minister is committed to advancing the project when resources permit.

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