Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 599: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a decision will be made in respect of the application for extensions to a school (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32052/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is in receipt of an application for an extension at the school to which the Deputy refers. The long-term accommodation needs of the school are under review and further information is awaited from its authority to finalise this matter. Progress on the proposed works will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards. The school authority has also applied to my Department for additional temporary accommodation. The school planning section of my Department will be in contact with the school authority shortly in relation to this matter.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 600: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in County Kildare has proceeded to advanced architectural planning in accordance with a letter sent to the chairperson of the board of management on 8 January 2004; if funding will be provided in 2006 in order that construction can proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32055/05]

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. The school in question was listed in my announcement of April this year as a project to progress through architectural planning up to pre-tender stage, namely, up to and including advanced architectural planning. The letter referred to by the Deputy in January 2004 did give provision for the school in question to proceed to advanced architectural planning provided the sketch scheme at that time was approved by my Department. However, the project did not move to advanced architectural planning as the brief changed in August of 2004 to reflect an increase in enrolments at the school and it was necessary to request a revised sketch scheme to take account of this.

My Department's officials are in the process of examining a recently received stage 2, developed sketch scheme, submission, which reflects the change in brief as of August 2004, and when this examination is completed will be in contact with the school authorities with regard to the next steps involved in progressing this building project. Progression of projects to construction will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2005-09.