Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 24 October 2007, the funds already committed under the new National Development Plan in 2007, 2008 and 2009; the percentage of the total permitted annual commitment in each year; the projected cost of the recently announced new builds for 2008; if this figure is included in the 2008 committed funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26753/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The total capital allocation for the Primary and Post-Primary sectors in 2007 is over €540m and this allocation will be expended by year-end. It is not possible to determine the level of contractual commitments that will be a constituent part of the 2008 allocation until later this year. This arises as projects on site will incur further expenditure in 2007 and a number of projects may reach contract stage and commence construction works before year end. Consequently, the actual level of contractual commitments that will feature in 2008 cannot be accurately determined at this time.

The annual Department of Finance sanction under the Capital Investment Framework denotes the level of contractual commitments permissible for following years and my Department intends to adhere to such direction for 2008.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if all the national guidelines for primary schools were considered in the application by a school (details supplied) in County Kildare for an extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26774/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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When a school is given approval to enter architectural planning the first step in the process is the appointment of a Design Team to design and plan the works.

All Design Teams are made aware of the Department's Design Team procedures which include relevant and appropriate guidelines and these must be adhered to in advancing a school through the architectural design process.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views in relation to the fact that no traffic impact study was carried out regarding an application for the extension of a primary school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if a traffic impact study is one of the guidelines for the provision of funding for such a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26775/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Following a pre-planning discussion between the Design Team and officials from the Roads Section of Kildare County Council, it was confirmed that a traffic impact assessment was not required. During this discussion, Kildare County Council suggested alterations to the scheme to take account of traffic requirements and these alterations have been incorporated into the design.

Kildare County Council granted planning permission for the prepared scheme. This was subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanála. My Department is awaiting the outcome of this appeal.