John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 378: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has lodged a planning application with Kilkenny County Council for a new school building for a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; the timeframe involved in lodging the application and bringing the project to construction stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16906/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The school referred to by the Deputy was listed among the 43 schools that I announced to start architectural planning in March of 2005. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has appointed a full Design Team on the project with the architectural service for this project being dealt with in-house by the School Building Section and indeed, substantial work on the early stages of the design process has already been completed.

My Department's officials have already had a preliminary meeting with the Local Authority Planners of Kilkenny County Council in order to address any possible conditions which the Local Authority may have in relation to the impending planning application and the School Authorities have been informed of the outcome of the meeting. It is not possible at this point to indicate when the planning application will be lodged and when the architectural planning process will be completed. There are 5 stages in this process and the timeframe for completing these stages is contingent on various factors including any unexpected issues that may arise.

At present the Civil / Structural Engineer is looking at the site specific issues and when his report is forwarded to my Department, my Officials will be in further contact with the School Authorities as to the next steps involved in progressing this project. Progression of projects to Construction will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 379: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of applications her Department has received from primary and post primary schools in County Wexford seeking new school buildings or extensions under the Departments school building programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16908/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The information is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy. If the Deputy has a query about a particular school my Department will be happy to provide the information.