Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the application for extension to and refurbishment of a school (details supplied) in County Cork was first made; and when the work will be approved, bearing in mind that the proposal to provide a devolved grant under the small schools scheme would not even cover 50% of the cost and is, therefore, entirely inappropriate for this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11502/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The school in question first applied for an extension and refurbishment in 2000. Its building project has been progressing through architectural planning. This school was one of 135 schools invited to participate in the small schools scheme, a devolved scheme for primary school building works that enables the school authorities to extend and refurbish their schools. Devolving funding to school management authorities allows them to have control of their projects, assists in moving projects more quickly to tender and construction and can also deliver better value for money.

The decision on whether to participate in the scheme or to drop out, if the scope of the build is more than the funding envelope permits, is a matter for the school authority. The management of this school, together with the other schools invited to participate in the devolved scheme, attended an information meeting held by my Department in Tullamore on 20 March 2006. This school raised a number of issues regarding its project which are being addressed at present.

Schools intending to participate in the devolved scheme have until 31 March to inform my Department of their decision. Should this school decide not to accept the invitation, its project will remain in the mainstream school building programme in line with the project's priority band rating.