Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 597: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when her Department will sanction the building of new school premises for a school (details supplied) in County Wexford on the site purchased in April 2002; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6404/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The school planning section of my Department is in receipt of an application for a new building from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria and it is being considered for funding under the small schools scheme 2006, details of which I intend to publish shortly.

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 598: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a school (details supplied) in County Mayo will get permission from her Department to progress its school building project to tender stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6407/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The project for St. Peter's was included in the announced list of school projects to be progressed through architectural planning in 2005. The project is at stage 4-5, detail design-bill of quantities. A letter approving the stage 4-5 submission was issued by my Department on 5 October 2005.

The design and planning of a building project is covered by stages one to five, during which the project is developed from the assessment of site suitability, through the detailed design, including the obtaining of planning permission, to the point where detailed bills of quantities are prepared. The project at St. Peter's has been allowed to progress up to and including stage 5, bill of quantities. This is the final stage before the invitation of tenders.

A decision on which school building projects will advance to tender and construction as part of the 2006 schools building and modernisation programme will be taken later in the year. All projects in architectural planning, including St. Peter's, will be considered as part of thisprocess.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 599: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on a request by a school (details supplied) in County Galway, for an extra €20,000 to complete the reconstruction and extension of the school; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this is a stand-alone rural school; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that a very extensive programme of alterations has already taken place; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that while the extra grant received as an addition to the devolved grant in 2005 was extremely welcome, this small rural school would not have the capability of raising all the extra finance needed; if more funding will be made available to complete the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6415/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, due to the onerous planning conditions placed on the school development, additional funding has been sanctioned for the school in question.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 600: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on an application by a school (details supplied) in County Galway for a top-up in addition to the €300,000 already approved in March 2005 under the devolved grant scheme; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this school and its management committee are prepared to take on very onerous financial responsibilities to ensure that the school is completed to a satisfactory specification; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the moneys already granted fall short by over €100,000; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the school management board has been collecting money locally as its input into the project; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the numbers attending the school have dramatically increased from 80 a few years ago to 120 to date in 2006 and the projections are for even greater increases in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6416/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, due to the onerous planning conditions placed on the development of the school in question, additional funding has been sanctioned.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 601: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the gross overcrowding at a school (details supplied) in County Galway; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that this school has been unable to accept new students at second, third and fourth year levels due to the lack of facilities; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that there are some classes being conducted out in the corridors; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the school has been campaigning for two classrooms for the past two years; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that due to the recently opened Loughrea bypass and in view of the Government's decision to earmark Loughrea as a decentralisation centre she will make available the necessary funding to have the classrooms built; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6417/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension at the school has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy.

The long-term accommodation needs of the school are being examined. This examination involves an assessment of demographic trends, housing developments, enrolments trends, diversity, current provision in the area. The Department's planning section expects to have this examination completed shortly and a decision will then be taken on how best to provide for the area into the future. When this is completed, the building project required to address the long-term accommodation needs of the school will be considered in the context of the school building and modenisation programme 2006-10.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 602: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the perimeter fence at a site (details supplied) in Dublin 24 will be built by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6419/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I have accepted the need to provide a perimeter fence at the site in question. My Department appointed a consultant to progress this project and planning permission was applied for. The consultant has informed the school building section of my Department that he has received notification of decision to grant planning permission, as issued by South Dublin County Council, dated 13 January 2006. The consultant has been instructed to seek tenders for the works involved.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 603: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the building of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6426/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In December 2005 my officials requested the school authorities to submit a revised sketch scheme as an addendum to the original stage 2 report, developed sketch scheme. This has recently been received and is being examined by my officials. When the assessment is complete they will be in further contact with the school authorities.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 604: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to the empty building on the same grounds as a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if her Department has made a decision on the allocation of this building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6427/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the building to which she refers was included in my recent announcement of 62 large-scale building projects countrywide, which have been approved to progress under the school building and modernisation programme. This building will provide permanent accommodation for Newbridge Educate Together national school. The projects in question will be progressed by way of the appointment of a design team under my Department's capital programme for 2006.

The building section of my Department will be providing information for the schools concerned shortly on how their projects will be advanced on foot of this announcement.