Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 332: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of the application by a school (details supplied) in County Kerry for the provision of a prefab building. [5596/07]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 333: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when it is proposed to carry out a technical investigation on the existing building and site at a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; if the matter can be dealt with as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5597/07]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 334: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the findings of an inspection (details supplied); if she will make them available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5598/07]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 to 334, inclusive, together.

The school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application to my Department for a building project. The long-term staffing figure on which accommodation needs will be based has been determined and notified to the school authority. It has been agreed that appropriate accommodation should be provided to cater for a long-term projected staffing of Principal + 3 Mainstream Assistants + ancillary, that is a four classroom school with appropriate ancillary accommodation.

During the consideration of the project the school confirmed to my Department that it was their wish to have their application treated as a new school project rather than an extension to the existing school. Before progressing the project further and to ensure that any capital funding allocated to the provision of a new school building represents optimal use of resources and is appropriate to meet the school's long-term accommodation needs it will be necessary to give consideration to the possibility of utilising the existing building and/or site before pursuing a greenfield site for a new build project.

The next step is to carry out a technical investigation of the existing building and site to determine their suitability. When this inspection has been completed the project will be progressed in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme. In the interim a rented prefabricated resource room has been provided as sought by the school to alleviate accommodation difficulties.