Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to an application for the erection of a new primary school at Rathwire, Killucan, County Westmeath; the stage same is at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8350/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department is aware of the current and planned housing developments for the area to which the Deputy refers and that additional accommodation will be required to cater for a consequential increase in enrolments.

As the Deputy will be aware, all applications for large scale capital funding are assessed against published prioritisation criteria and assigned a band rating. Progress on individual projects is then considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme consistent with that band rating. This is the case for the project in question.

The new National Development Plan (NDP) includes funding of €4.5 billion for investment in school building infrastructure. This will be the largest investment programme in schools in the history of the State and it will enable the Department to ensure that school places are available where needed as well as continuing to upgrade existing school facilities. This investment will allow the Department to continue the acceleration of the school building programme which commenced during the lifetime of the last NDP when well over €2.6 billion was invested on school development, delivering over 7,800 projects.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made to provide a much needed new school building at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [8358/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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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.

The new National Development Plan (NDP) includes funding of €4.5 billion for investment in school building infrastructure. This will be the largest investment programme in schools in the history of the State and it will enable the Department to ensure that school places are available where needed as well as continuing to upgrade existing school facilities. This investment will allow the Department to continue the acceleration of the school building programme which commenced during the lifetime of the last NDP when well over €2.6 billion was invested on school development, delivering over 7,800 projects.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the level of progress regarding the proposed building project at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8359/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at stage 3 (i.e. Developed Sketch Scheme) of the architectural planning process. This stage has been received and reviewed in my Department. Additional information is being sought from school's Design Team. As soon as this information has been received a review meeting will be organised between the Board of Management, it's Design Team and the Department to assess the submission.

Further progress on the project will then be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and modernisation Programme.

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in County Cork is considered by her Department to be in a rapidly developing area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8365/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The area to which the Deputy refers is not currently designated as a rapidly developing area by my Department.

As the Deputy will probably be aware, the particular emphasis for my Department's Building Programme 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.