Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of the application for funding from a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6426/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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An extension project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, and the project is being considered in the context of the school buildings and modernisation programme.

The Deputy will be aware that in January I announced the first phase of the 2005 schools building programme which provided details of 122 major school building projects countrywide that will prepare tenders and move to construction during 2005.

I have today announced the next phase of the programme under which 192 schools will be allocated funding to undertake projects, such as extensions and refurbishments. These projects will proceed immediately, on a devolved basis, which means that the school authorities will control the planning and construction phases of the improvement works at their own school. Each school will be contacted directly by officials, over the next few days.

Further phases of the schools building and modernisation programme are nearing finalisation and I will be making further announcements in the coming weeks to include an expansion of the number of schools and extending the scope of the projects approved under the summer works scheme, schools that will be authorised to commence architectural planning and schools whose projects will further progress through the design process.