Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if an application has been received from a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary for capital grant aid under the summer works scheme 2008; when she expects the application to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4731/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Summer Works Scheme was introduced in 2004. Since then, over 3,000 projects costing in excess of €300 million have been completed. With so many smaller projects having been completed over the past few years, I intend to focus on delivering as many large projects as possible in 2008. There will not, therefore, be a new Summer Works Scheme as part of our building programme this year.

The new NDP 2007-2013 will involve an investment of over €4.5 billion in school buildings, including almost €600 million this year alone. This funding will enable my Department to continue to take a proactive approach to the provision of modern school accommodation and target funding, as appropriate, in order to ensure that additional school accommodation is provided in developing areas within the earliest possible timeframes.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 477: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the applications received from County Tipperary schools for capital grant aid under the summer works scheme 2008; when she expects the applications to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4732/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Summer Works Scheme was introduced in 2004. Since then, over 3,000 projects costing in excess of €300 million have been completed. With so many smaller projects having been completed over the past few years, I intend to focus on delivering as many large projects as possible in 2008. There will not, therefore, be a new Summer Works Scheme as part of our building programme this year.

The new NDP 2007-2013 will involve an investment of over €4.5 billion in school buildings, including almost €600 million this year alone. This funding will enable my Department to continue to take a proactive approach to the provision of modern school accommodation and target funding, as appropriate, in order to ensure that additional school accommodation is provided in developing areas within the earliest possible timeframes.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 478: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a school building project design team appointment in a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason for the delay in processing this application; the further reason the project has been put on hold; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4734/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, is considered on an ongoing basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. The Deputy can be assured that my Department will continue to ensure that building projects such as the one in question will be commenced and delivered within the earliest possible timeframes. Officials from my Department will be in contact with the school authorities when the Department is in a position to authorise progress of this project.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 479: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of an application for grant aid for major capital works for a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when she expects a decision to be made; if her attention has been drawn to the urgency of this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4735/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, all applications for large scale capital funding, including the application in question are assessed against published prioritisation criteria and assigned a band rating. This proposed project has been assigned a Band 2 rating. Progress on projects will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme consistent with its band rating.