Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 1219: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will sanction the invitation of tenders for the required extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1861/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. Department officials are currently examining an amended stage 3 submission and the school authorities will be kept advised of developments.

I recently announced details of 122 major school building projects that will progress to tender and construction phase over the next 12 to 15 months under the €3.4 billion multi-annual funding secured for the years 2005-09. I am anxious to ensure that a consistent flow of projects to tender and construction can be sustained into the future. I plan to make a number of announcements in the near future in relation to the schools building and modernisation programme including details of those school projects which will further progress through the design process.

All projects in architectural planning, including the school in question, will be considered as part of this process.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 1220: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will sanction the invitation of tenders for the required extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1862/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which were revised following consultation with the education partners. Progress on this project is being considered in the context of the school building programme and the Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the first phase of the 2005 programme that provided details of 122 major school building projects countrywide which will prepare tenders and move to construction during 2005.

This is the first in a series of announcements I plan to make in the coming period in relation to the schools building and modernisation programme that will include details of schools identified as suitable for construction under public private partnerships; an expansion of the number of schools that will be invited to deliver their building projects on the basis of devolved funding; details of schools with projects approved under the 2005 summer works scheme; schools whose projects will further progress through the design process; and schools that will be authorised to commence architectural planning

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 1221: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will sanction the invitation of tenders for the required renovations to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1863/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which were revised following consultation with the education partners. Progress on this project is being considered in the context of the school building programme and the Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the first phase of the 2005 programme that provided details of 122 major school building projects countrywide which will prepare tenders and move to construction during 2005.

This is the first in a series of announcements I plan to make in the coming period in relation to the schools building and modernisation programme that will include details of schools identified as suitable for construction under public private partnerships; an expansion of the number of schools that will be invited to deliver their building projects on the basis of devolved funding; details of schools with projects approved under the 2005 summer works scheme; schools whose projects will further progress through the design process; and schools that will be authorised to commence architectural planning

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 1222: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will sanction the invitation of tenders for the required 17 additional classrooms for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1864/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Phase 2 of the extension project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which were revised following consultation with the education partners.

Progress on this project is being considered in the context of the school building programme and the Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the first phase of the 2005 programme that provided details of 122 major school building projects countrywide which will prepare tenders and move to construction during 2005.

This is the first in a series of announcements I plan to make in the coming period in relation to the schools building and modernisation programme that will include details of schools identified as suitable for construction under public private partnerships; an expansion of the number of schools that will be invited to deliver their building projects on the basis of devolved funding; details of schools with projects approved under the 2005 summer works scheme; schools whose projects will further progress through the design process; and schools that will be authorised to commence architectural planning

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 1223: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has the authority to compulsorily purchase lands in Kill to provide a new national school; if these powers are available, the reason they are not used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1865/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Although my Department does not have the authority to compulsorily purchase lands for the provision of educational facilities, I wish to assure the Deputy that the property management section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, is continuing to explore all possibilities in relation to the acquisition of a site for a new national school in Kill. Every effort is being made to ensure that a site is acquired as soon as possible.

Due to the commercial sensitivities of site acquisitions, it is not proposed at this stage to identify specific sites to be acquired. However, this information will be placed on my Department's website when the relevant acquisitions have been completed.