Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 517: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the situation with respect to the provision of a new school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7626/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The school referred to by the Deputy is one of 27 new schools to be provided under my Department's Public Private Partnership Programme (PPP) 2005 to 2009. I have already announced the first two bundles of school projects.

The make up of further school bundles in my Department's PPP school building programme will be determined by my Department in consultation with the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) on such issues as the band rating allocated to each school in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, site availability for each school, outline planning permission having being secured, geographical spread and the estimated total cost of the proposed school bundle.

I understand that County Wicklow VEC are currently in the process of securing a site for the school in question. I intend announcing further PPP project bundles during this year and the school referred to by the Deputy will be considered in this context and in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 518: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the present status of proposed developments for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7642/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Representatives of the Board of Management of the school to which the Deputy refers attended an Information Seminar in Tullamore on 13 December 2006 hosted by the School Building Section of the Department. The steps necessary to initiate the design phase of the eighty building projects announced by me in November last were discussed at that meeting and all schools were advised that architectural design teams would be appointed to their projects over the coming months. The School Building Section will begin advertising for these design teams shortly through the public procurement portal, www.etenders.gov.ie. Progression of all projects to tender and construction will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 519: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a final decision will be made to give the go-ahead for the construction of an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; when construction will begin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7643/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. My Department recently wrote to the school authorities regarding their Stage 1 submission (site suitability and design options). When a reply is received my Department will be in further contact with the school authorities regarding their project.

Progression of the project to tender and construction will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation programme.