Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress of building works at a school (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8218/08]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a building project at a school (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8221/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together.

The schools referred to by the Deputy are two of four schools that make up the First Bundle of the Department's current Public Private Partnership Programme. This bundle consists of two new schools in Portlaoise, Co. Laois and two new schools in Co. Offaly. The two schools in Portlaoise will be built on the one site — St. Mary's CBS, and Scoil Chríost Rí and the two schools in Co. Offaly which are the subject of the Deputy's questions comprise of a new community school and a new community college.

Macquarie Partnership for Ireland (MPFI) has been selected as the preferred tenderer for the provision of this Bundle. Negotiations between the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), who are responsible for the procurement of the schools, and MPFI are well advanced. Assuming a successful conclusion to these negotiations MPFI will be in a position to submit planning applications for all four schools to the relevant local authorities, and that the contract will be ready for signing on receipt of planning permission. Subject to the outcome of the planning process with the relevant authorities, construction of the four schools is expected to start in the summer and it is anticipated that they will be available before the end of 2009.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of the proposed capital works project at a school (details supplied) in County Clare. [8224/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at stage 4/5 of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase is considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

The particular emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in developing areas, while also showing the Government's commitment to delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country. The progression of all school building projects, including the one in question, will be considered in this context.

On 1 February, I announced a list of schools which are due to go to construction in 2008. It is also 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.