Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 236: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a school (details supplied) in County Carlow was not offered a devolved grant even though it is a three teacher school and only has two classrooms; and her views on whether prefabs offer good value for money in the long term. [11142/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding. The proposed project was not included in a devolved scheme because a determination of the school's long-term needs and, hence, its suitability or otherwise for such a scheme had not been sufficiently advanced at the time decisions were required to be made on school selections for the schemes in question. The application has, however, been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects and progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards.

In the meantime, approval has been given to the school for the rental of temporary accommodation to meet its immediate accommodation needs. This is a short-term rental agreement which will only remain in place until such time as the permanent accommodation needs of the school are met.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 237: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a school (details supplied) in County Carlow did not receive an allocation of funding for extension and refurbishment works as announced on 6 March 2006; where the school is in terms of the school building programme; when the next round of funding will be announced; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the classrooms in the school are 34 metres square and 30 metres square approximately and are well below the recommended 76 metres square; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11143/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The school to which the Deputy refers originally applied to my Department for capital funding for a multi-purpose room and the provision of ancillary accommodation. This application was assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 3 rating.

However, in late 2005, the school indicated that it required two new classrooms and the conversion of existing accommodation to ancillary accommodation. The school was instructed to make a formal application to my Department in this regard using the required standard application documentation. This is still awaited. When it is received, the application will be re-assessed and the project will be considered for progress in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards.