Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 393: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in September 2004 her Department directed the board of management of a school (details supplied) in County Dublin to utilise the all-purpose room as a class room; if, in view of this, an additional prefab will be made available to the school for September 2005 to enable the all purpose room to revert to its previous use. [7546/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The school referred to by the Deputy made an application to my Department for the provision of two temporary classrooms from September 2005. Approval has now been given to the school authority to provide the two temporary classrooms required. I understand that this will facilitate the general purposes room reverting to its original usage at the school in question.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 394: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the carry forward of €50 million from the schools building programme 2004 to the financial year 2005 in view of the fact that many schools seeking funding for necessary building work were advised by her Department that no funds were available. [7552/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The carryover of €50 million from 2004 to 2005 on school buildings was not due to any reduction or cutback in planned activity. The reason was that some payments on projects that were approved to go to tender and construction, did not incur payment in 2004 as originally envisaged.

A record level of new school projects was commissioned in 2004 and payments expected to fall due before the end of 2004 did not arise until early 2005. However, the decision by the Government to put its entire capital programme, including the education capital programme, on a multi-annual basis means that it is easier to manage and cope with that type of variation in projected spending.

The Deputy will appreciate that the 2004 school building programme was a multifaceted undertaking involving many hundreds of individual projects ranging from new school buildings, extensions, refurbishments and other projects under the summer works scheme, temporary accommodation and permanent accommodation initiatives, remediation programmes and the contingency fund. In addition, my Department funds the purchase of sites for new school building projects.

In broad terms, there are many reasons which can cause unexpected delays in the pace at which some projects advance. These include an appeal of planning permission by third parties to An Bord Pleanála, contractors withdrawing tenders and design teams being slower than anticipated in getting projects tendered.

However, through the carryover measure and the overall management of my capital budget and Department spending to the end of 2004, I was able to ensure that all funds remaining for 2004, together with the allocation for 2005, allowed me to maintain the momentum in the capital building and modernisation programme started by the record level of activity in 2004.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 395: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of the school construction project for the Stepaside and Leopardstown area in the Sandyford parish of Dublin South; if it is envisaged that construction will be completed by September 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7558/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department is pursuing the development of two schools to serve the emerging needs of the Leopardstown-Stepaside area. A site has recently been acquired to provide a new 16 classroom facility for Gaelscoil Taobh na Coille. This project is included in the list of recently announced projects which will commence architectural planning with immediate effect.

A suitable site for the planned new parish school has also been identified. Acquisition of the site is at an advanced conveyancing stage. This school is expected to commence operation in temporary accommodation next September and the planning section of my Department is liaising with the chairperson of the board of management with a view to procuring temporary accommodation to facilitate its commencement plans.

Liam Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 396: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in providing a new national school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [7579/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that an application has been received for a new building for the school to which the Deputy refers. Various options for the long-term accommodation needs of this school are being considered in the school planning section of my Department, including the possibility of acquiring a new greenfield site. A decision in the matter will be taken as quickly as possible.