Written answers

Tuesday, 24 October 2006

Department of Education and Science

Schools Building Projects

9:00 pm

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 583: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath has been placed in band two, despite the fact that the documentation, records and facts submitted to her Department clearly indicates that this school should be placed in band 1.1 as it clearly fulfils the criteria for such a placement; if, in the context of the proposals as submitted, further consideration will be given to upgrading this school to band 1.1 as the process of building a significant extension to the school is expected to take a considerable length of time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34061/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The application from the school in question is very recent. A preliminary examination of the application suggests that the project attracts a Band 2 rating. However, in common with all applications for large scale capital investment, a rigorous assessment will be carried out on the schools long term needs. The result of the examination will determine the ultimate Band rating which will apply mindful of the definition applying to a rapidly developing area as published in the prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 584: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made since March 2006 on the project agreed to at a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if she intends to provide funding for a post primary facility at this location to augment the services provided by the primary facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34074/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The building project for the School referred to by the Deputy was listed among the 43 schools that I announced to start the architectural planning process in March of 2005. Substantial work on the early stages of the design process have already been completed.

My Department's officials have already had a preliminary meeting with the Local Authority Planners of Kilkenny Co. Council in order to address any possible conditions which the Local Authority may have in relation to the planning application and the School Authorities have been informed of the outcome of the meeting.

My Department has lodged the planning application for the School in question and a date for a decision on the planning application is due this month.

An information meeting was held in my Department's offices in Tullamore with the School's Design Team in September of this year regarding the stage 3 submission (developed sketch scheme) for the project.

When the complete stage 3 submission is received in my Department, my Officials will arrange a further meeting with the School's Design Team in order to evaluate the documentation. It is envisaged that unless there are very exceptional circumstances involved, the meeting will be sufficient to authorise the project to progress to the next stages of architectural planning.

My Department has at present no plans to provide a Post-Primary facility at this location.

Progression of projects to Construction will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.

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