Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I admire Senator Bannon's enthusiasm in the context of his already being out knocking on doors. I have been Member of the Houses for almost 25 years and I have yet to knock at a door before an election was called. I hope he is not too early.

I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline the position of the Department of Science regarding Scoil Etchen, Kinnegad, County Westmeath. In 2005 the Department of Education and Science announced details of 89 primary schools and 33 post primary schools that were allowed to progress to tender and construction. St. Etchen's, Kinnegad, was among the primary schools listed in the announcement.

In February 2005 representatives of the school attended a meeting in Tullamore organised by the building unit of the Department, which outlined the steps that a school should take to advance a building project through tender and construction phases. In September 2005 the Department received a stage 3 — developed sketch scheme — of architectural planning from the school authorities. The brief for the project is to provide adequate accommodation for a principal and 16 classroom teachers. This involves the construction of eight additional classrooms and ancillary accommodation, plus upgrading works to the existing school.

In November 2005 a letter issued from the building unit to the board of management of the school requesting a revised stage 3 submission. A revised submission was received in March 2006. At the end of that month, a further letter issued to the board of management requesting detailed information in relation to the mechanical and electrical element of the stage 3 submission. A response was received from the school in April 2006.

In July 2006, following a comprehensive examination of the revised stage 3 documentation, the building unit issued a further letter to the board of management requesting additional information in relation to a number of matters. A response was received in late October 2006 and was examined by the Department. A meeting was held on Monday, 5 February 2007 between officials of the Department of Education and Science and the school authorities and their design team to try and resolve any remaining difficulties with the stage 3 submission. As a result of this meeting, further information must be supplied to the Department by the school and its design team on or before Tuesday, 20 March 2007.

Once the stage 3 submission is approved by the Department, the school will be given devolved authority to seek planning permission, prepare tender documentation and, finally, invite tenders.

I assure Senator Bannon that the Department of Education and Science is committed to providing suitable high quality accommodation for Scoil Etchen at the earliest possible date. I again thank him for raising this matter.