Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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I do not intend to elaborate in detail on the conditions prevailing in Kilfinane school, which dates back to 1909, because I have discussed the school several times here and in the Other House. The recent announcement that a new school had been approved for the Kilfinane area has been welcomed. I hope this is not a false dawn because in 2001 a new school was promised and the issue arose again prior to the previous general election. Will the Minister of State indicate when the various stages of the building project will be completed? When will the project go to tender and construction commence? Answers to these questions would provide a clear indication, far in advance of the next general election, as to when the new school will be completed. This is the reason the text I submitted to the Cathaoirleach is so neat and succinct. I look forward to the Minister of State's response.

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator Finucane for affording me an opportunity of outlining to the House the position of the Department of Education and Science regarding Kilfinane Convent primary school, Kilfinane, County Limerick. My colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, recently announced details of 54 primary schools and eight post-primary schools which will commence architectural planning for building and modernisation works in 2006. I am pleased that a new, six-classroom primary school in Kilfinane was one of the projects she announced.

The new school will be built on a greenfield site and in addition to the six classrooms, the appropriate level of ancillary accommodation for a school of that size will be provided, including a general purpose hall, library, administration areas and two external hardcourt play areas. The next step is to appoint a design team to the project, comprising an architect, a quantity surveyor, a services engineer and a civil and structural engineer. Once appointed, the design team will commence the architectural planning phase of the project. Architectural planning of major capital projects involves work from determining site suitability through the detailed design of the project and obtaining planning permission, to preparing bills of quantities.

On 27 January last, representatives from the school attended an information seminar in Tullamore, hosted by the school planning and building unit of my Department, for the new school projects commencing architectural planning this year. The purpose of the seminar was to brief the boards of management on the projects, to introduce them to key members of the Department's staff with whom they will be dealing in the course of their projects, to set out their roles and responsibilities and those of the school building unit on progression of projects, and to advise on the next steps to be taken.

In the case or Kilfinane, the board of management, as a client, will ultimately be responsible for the rate of progress of the project through the design phase to the point where it is ready to go to tender and construction. In that respect, officials from the school building section of the Department of Education and Science will work closely with the board of management over the coming weeks to assist in the appointment of the design team and getting the project started. In the case of all large capital projects handled by the school building section, progression of projects to construction will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2009.

I again thank the Senator for raising the matter.