Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a school (details supplied) in County Clare will be allowed to proceed with the development of the new school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4009/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school in question has been included in my recent announcement of school projects that are progressing to construction.

My Department will be in contact with the school authorities over the next number of days to advise on the most appropriate preparation schedule applicable to this project.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of an application by a school (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4019/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A schedule of overall accommodation for a projected long-term enrolment of 800 has been drawn up and agreed with the School Authorities for the school to which the Deputy refers. A green field site for the new proposed school has been identified by Limerick VEC and is at acquisition stage. Once the site issues are finalised, the project will be progressed in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she would be specific in respect of the date of the announcement of the first tranche of projects that will proceed to construction in 2008 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4034/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I announced on 1 February the first tranche of projects to proceed to construction in 2008. My announcement included details of the 18 large scale building projects approved for construction and a further 30 new primary schools in rapidly developing areas, being planned to be in place by next September. My Department will be in contact with the school authorities of the 18 large scale projects over the next number of days to advise on the most appropriate preparation schedule applicable on each project. This is the first tranche of projects that will commence construction during 2008 and 2009. The immediate task is to ensure that the projects in this first phase are advanced to construction immediately to ensure delivery of the maximum number of school places in order to meet the increased school population. With almost €600million to be spent this year on school building projects we need to manage the projects on a rolling basis throughout the year in order to deliver the best outcome for our investment. It is my intention to make a further announcement after Easter to allow a further batch of schools to commence construction and to update progress on the new schools planned for September 2008 delivery in developing areas.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 280: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will confirm that her Department has received an application for a new gaelscoil from the board of management of a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; if she will advance the project to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4039/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school building has been received from the school authority referred to by the Deputy. An assessment of the projected enrolment trends, demographic trends and the housing developments in the area will be required to determine the long term projected staffing figure on which the school's accommodation needs will be based. The school building project will be considered in the context of the school building programme.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the application for additional buildings by a school (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4095/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware of the significantly increased activity in the area of provision of additional school accommodation as a result of the recent demographic changes. In this context, the Department's technical unit have carried out a large number of technical inspections in order to progress new school building/extension projects to Design Team Appointment stage. A technical inspection has been carried out in the school to which the Deputy refers and a report has been completed. A Conservation Architect is now recommended to examine the existing school building. The Department will be in contact with the school's management authority when appointing the required consultant.