Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 584: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application for additional accommodation at a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on this school's application for the provision of extra accommodation. [9063/05]

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 585: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the situation regarding grant aid for the construction of a car park at a school (details supplied) in County Galway under the summer works scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9064/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 584 and 585 together.

The application for additional accommodation at the school to which the Deputy refers is being examined in the school planning section of my Department. This process involves the consideration of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends in the area and the capacity of any other schools in the area to meet the anticipated demand. When these issues have been fully investigated by my Department, a decision will be made on how best to provide for the school's long-term accommodation needs.

The position on the construction of a car park is that the project was progressed by the school without the prior agreement of my Department and retrospective funding was sought by way of an application under the 2004 summer works scheme. The application was rejected on the basis that it is not my Department's policy to sanction retrospective funding for any project progressed by a school authority without my Department's prior approval.