Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 588: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a design team will be appointed for a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [17560/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that this project was one of eighty large scale projects announced by me in November 2006 to commence architectural planning. The incoming design team for this project will be drawn from a Framework Panel that officials in my School Building Section has formed for all Generic Repeat Design (GRD) schools of twelve or more classrooms. An invitation to tender will issue shortly to the members of the panel.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 589: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a design team has been appointed for a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [17561/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 597: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the provision of the new national school at Kill, County Kildare; the degree to which approval for the adjoining development which affects the school project has been approved, agreed or is pending; the earliest date in the event of an early and positive decision by which she expects to be in a position to authorise the advancement of the project with a view to ensuring the availability of a new school at the earliest opportunity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17649/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions 588, 589 and 591 together.

This project was one of eighty large scale projects announced by me in November 2006 to commence architectural planning. The Office of Public Works has identified a site for the school. Agreement on the site acquisition has been reached subject to contract. While draft contracts have been exchanged, the conveyancing process continues to be delayed pending the outcome of a planning application by the Vendor. Essentially the degree of progress of this application is a matter for the applicant and the local authority. My Department understands that a decision on the application is due in or around August 2007.

In the meantime however architectural planning for the project and the process of appointing an architectural design team who will design and plan the works is under way. To that end, an advertisement seeking design team consultants was placed on the public procurement portal, www.etenders.gov.ie, on Monday 26th March last, with the closing date for the receipt of Expressions of Interest being Friday 27th April.

Officials in the School Building Section of my Department are currently assessing tenders received from various consultants who have expressed an interest in the design team make-up for the building project proposed for this school. After these pre-qualification applications have been assessed by my School Building Section, further instructions will issue to all of the short-listed candidates seeking further submissions so that phase two of the appointment process (the Award Stage) can commence. When this exercise is completed the architectural planning of the project will commence thereafter.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 590: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to the review being carried out for the provision of a second level Gaelscoil in north Kildare. [17563/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 611: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which she or her Department has considered or is considering the provision of an all-Irish second level school in north Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17663/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 590 and 611 together.

County Kildare VEC recently applied for the establishment of a separate all-Irish post primary school in Maynooth. The Department has given careful consideration to the application and has decided that the application should not be granted. In arriving at this conclusion, account was taken of the fact that Coláiste Cois Life in Lucan, which operates under the aegis of Co. Dublin VEC, was established to serve the needs of the west Dublin and north Kildare area. This includes Maynooth and Kilcock.

A multi-million Euro building project was recently completed which provides Coláiste Cois Life with state of the art permanent accommodation. The building, which is not yet full, will cater for 600 pupils. Transport arrangements are in place for eligible pupils from the North Kildare area.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 591: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to have a new national school (details supplied) in County Kildare operational for the opening of the new school year in September 2007; the number of pupils to be catered for and accommodation provision; and when plans will be drawn up for a permanent school building. [17564/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 596: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the provision of the promised new primary school at Celbridge, County Kildare; the degree to which the proposal has advanced; when the school is expected to become available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17648/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 596 together.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have given approval for the commencement of a new primary school for Celbridge to commence operation next September. A Principal has already been appointed and the Patron is making the necessary temporary accommodation arrangements. The Department is in discussion with the Local Authority in relation to a site for the permanent location of the school.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 592: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare has completed stage 4 and 5; and if tenders are to be invited. [17569/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department issued a letter to the school in question in February of this year devolving authority to the Board of Management to progress the proposed extension project to tender and construction. The school's Design Team are currently working on the Stage 4/5 (Detailed Design/Bill of Quantities) and the advertisement for the pre-selection of contractors will be placed shortly. It is hoped that the project will proceed to tender and construction thereafter.