John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1385: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the costings relative to the rent of a third pre-fab at a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be approved; the position regarding an application for a further three pre-fabs to fulfil a need for September 2006; the status of an application for a school extension consisting of four rooms and accommodation; the further position of an application for the 2006 summer works scheme; and if consideration of each proposal will be expedited. [2349/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In May 2004, the school to which the Deputy refers refused a devolved grant of €70,000 to provide extra permanent accommodation. Subsequently, it sought approval for four extra classrooms to accommodate a mainstream classroom teacher and three special education teachers, SET. This was approved by way of rental of two full sized classrooms, 76 m2, one of which was to be sub-divided into three smaller rooms to accommodate the SETs which require 16 m2 each. It subsequently transpired that the school proceeded, without sanction, to rent three classrooms. Retrospective approval was sought for the third classroom which was refused by my Department on the grounds that its accommodation requirements were adequately addressed with the original sanction. The school authority has appealed this decision and the matter is currently being re-examined in the school planning section.

The school authority has made an application under the additional accommodation scheme 2006 and the summer works scheme 2006. All applications under these schemes are currently being assessed and I hope to announce details of the successful applicants shortly. With regard to the school's application for large scale capital funding, this application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and progress on the project is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards.