Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 599: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Meath; if she will review its case with a view to granting increased funding for this much needed project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23924/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the expansion of the devolved scheme 2005 for primary school building works a grant of €440,000 was sanctioned to enable the management authorities of the school in question to provide additional permanent accommodation. The initiative allows boards of management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives them control of the building project.

My Department does not intend increasing the amount of the grant offered to the school. This is because a central tenet of the devolved scheme is that the school, granted discretion and funding, must equally accept responsibility for prioritisation, adherence to statutory regulations, control of costs, and ensuring value for money.

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 600: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in respect of a project (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in commencing construction works; the action she is taking to rectify the situation; when works will commence on this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23925/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The design work on the project, referred to by the Deputy, had been completed and tenders for the construction of the building advertised. However the matter could not be progressed further pending resolution of legal issues regarding the site.

The site for the school is being acquired by my Department under the terms of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002. The Department has accepted in principle a site which was offered under the terms of the property aspect of the indemnity agreement between the State and 18 religious congregations dated 5 of June 2002. I assure the Deputy that the provision of the new school building will be progressed as soon as the legal issues have been resolved.