Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the full extent of the extra facilities required at Naas CBS; the full extent of the recent offer made by his Department to the school authorities; the reason the full needs of the school, as set out by them and agreed with his Department, have not been met; the way in which he proposes to address the situation arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4914/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The school building programme for 2004 as published is focused towards the construction of large-scale new building projects which were in the advanced stages of architectural planning. The proposed extension project at Meánscoil Iognáid Rís is in the early stages of architectural planning and, consequently, did not feature in the 2004 programme.

However, given the difficulties being experienced at the school, my Department is anxious to provide a speedy solution to meet the short to medium-term needs of the school. In this regard, it is prepared to provide permanent high quality modular accommodation in accordance with a schedule of accommodation to be agreed with the school authority. Such accommodation is widely used in other countries and has been used here in the prison service. In addition, my Department satisfactorily piloted an entire new second level school in Cabra last year using this accommodation. The main advantage of modular accommodation is the speed with which it can be delivered. It is also permanent and can be demounted for use elsewhere as circumstances at individual schools change.

It is envisaged the remainder of the accommodation required at Meanscoil Iognáid Rís can be provided using the same delivery method under next year's capital programme. However, if the school authority wishes to follow the traditional building delivery method, its project will be included in a re-evaluation of all projects that will not go to construction as part of the 2004 programme with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual building programme from 2005 onwards. This re-evaluation will take place following completion of a review of the prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects which is taking place with the education partners.