Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 1283: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status and progress of a building project (details supplied); the steps which are required to expedite the project; the resources which will be committed to the project by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1489/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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An application for a new PE hall at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects. The project has been assigned a band 4 rating, and its progress will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 1284: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when an appeal will be resolved and the findings issued to a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1490/06]

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

The intention of the small schools' initiative is to provide funding to schools to enable them to undertake wanted building projects. The initiative is not intended to leave the schools with significant fund-raising needs but for the schools to tailor the scope of capital works commissioned to the available funding. The decision on whether to continue participating in the scheme or to drop out, if the scope of building is more than the funding envelope permits, is a matter for each school authority.

An appeal by the school in question was considered by the appeals board, and it is satisfied that, under the terms of the scheme, the school does not warrant additional funding. The board of management has been informed of the position.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 1285: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the contents of a whole-school evaluation report (details supplied); if consideration will be given to providing funds to the necessary extension in view of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1491/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension at the school referred to by the Deputy. I am also aware of the recent whole-school evaluation report which was completed on the school.

The school's application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria and is being considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2005-2009.