Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the extension and refurbishment of a school (details supplied) in County Mayo will proceed to architectural planning stage. [22969/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The school referred to by the Deputy made an application to the Department for extension and refurbishment. The application was assessed and assigned a band rating in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria. The school was allocated funding under the Small Schools Scheme 2006 to undertake the extension and refurbishment of the existing school building.

The school authorities have recently advised the Department that they are not accepting this funding on the basis that the level of accommodation required and the extent of refurbishment to be carried out at the school could not be addressed from within this allocation.

The school authorities have now requested the Department to consider the provision of a new school building on the existing school site. Officials in my Department will examine the school's proposal and will be in contact with the school authorities in this regard. A full assessment of the school's current and long-term need will be carried out and a decision will then be made on how best to address the school's accommodation needs.

The proposed building project at the school will then be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.