Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the delays in finalising the purchase of land for a school (details supplied); and the steps she will take to speed up this process. [4861/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The property management section of the Office of Public Works which acts on behalf of my Department on site acquisitions generally was requested to acquire a site on behalf of my Department. A site has been identified for the provision of a new school referred to by the Deputy. Contract details are being finalised by OPW and it is at late conveyancing. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school in question was one of the 62 projects announced by me in January last. My Department will appoint a design team to the project as soon as the acquisition is complete.

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if additional funding will be allocated to a school (details supplied) in County Galway. [4862/06]

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 of €300,000 was sanctioned to enable the management authorities of the school in question to provide additional accommodation. The initiative allows boards of management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives boards of management control of the building project.

The intention of the scheme is to provide funding to schools to enable them to undertake wanted building projects. The scheme is not intended to leave schools with significant fundraising needs but for the school 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 build is more than the funding envelope permits, is a matter for each school authority.

An appeal for additional funding by the school in question will be considered by the appeals' board and the school will be notified of its decision in due course.

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if additional funding will be allocated to a school (details supplied) in County Galway in order to finalise a partially completed project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4863/06]

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 extend and refurbish the school. The initiative allows boards of management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives boards of management control of the building project.

The intention of the scheme is to provide funding to schools to enable them to undertake wanted building projects. The scheme is not intended to leave schools with significant fundraising needs but for the school 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 build is more than the funding envelope permits, is a matter for each school authority.

An appeal for additional funding from the school in question was considered recently by the appeals' board and it has been approved for additional funding.