Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I am glad the Senator has given me the opportunity of outlining to this House the Department of Education and Science's current position regarding the allocation of funding for schools building projects.

The 2003 capital programme was published in January 2003 and full details of individual projects are available on the Department's website. The Department has already accepted that there is a need to provide additional accommodation for students of Newtown Upper national school. I am pleased to inform the Senator that a large-scale building project for Newtown Upper national school, Carrick on Suir, County Tipperary, is listed in section seven of the 2003 school building programme. This project is at stage two of architectural planning – developed sketch – and has been assigned a band three rating by the Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects.

The Department of Education and Science intends to publish details of the 2004 school building programme by early January at the latest. The programme will clarify what progress is planned for projects such as Newtown Upper national school, during 2004.

I thank the Senator again for giving me the opportunity of outlining the current position to this House.