Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 852: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the date for commencement and provision of a physical education hall at a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10065/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 4/5 (Detailed Design/Bill of Quantities). The Building Unit of my Department recently received a submission from the school authorities regarding the project. When this submission has been examined the project should then be in a position to proceed to tender. It is envisioned that the project will have a twelve month contract period. I am not in a position at this stage to comment on the proposed commencement date.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 853: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress she has made in respect of the provision of a physical education hall at a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10066/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of PE Halls at post-primary level is considered an integral part of the design stage for any major refurbishment programme of existing school buildings. All applications received in the Department are banded in accordance with the prioritisation criteria put in place following consultation with the Education partners.

The PE Hall project at the school referred to by the Deputy is part of an extension/ refurbishment application from the school and has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria. The project is being considered in the context of the Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 854: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she will provide a new primary school (details supplied) in County Galway; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the current school was built in 1978 and that currently one third of school classes are in prefabs and 13 classes use nine classrooms and four prefabs; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the inadequate infrastructure leads to constant power outages and heating malfunctions, that playground space has been severely restricted due to accommodating prefabs, that resource teacher facilities are completely inadequate and that they currently have to work from cupboard and corridor space, that there has been no computer room or library facilities at this school and that there is restricted access for disabled children; if she will examine this situation as a matter of urgency; when she will make an announcement regarding the provision of proper accommodation for the children and teachers at the school; the moneys to be made available for this purpose in 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10067/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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An application was submitted by the school referred to by the Deputy under the Permanent Accommodation Scheme 2007. On Monday, 5 March 2007, I announced details of the schools to receive funding under the Permanent Accommodation Scheme 2007. However, this application was not successful, as the Department's evaluation of the project determined that a major building project would be more appropriate to address the school's accommodation needs into the future.

A major application for an extension is being considered by the Department. In the light of increases in enrolments at the school in recent years, a determination of the long term projected enrolment, on which the school's accommodation needs are based is required. This will take into account factors such as current and projected enrolment, and the likely impact of ongoing and proposed housing developments and when completed a decision will be taken on how best to provide for the schools long term accommodation needs. The project will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.