Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 367: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an issue in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [10017/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the expansion of the Permanent Accommodation Scheme, a grant was approved for the school in question to provide 3 permanent classrooms. The Scheme allows Boards of Management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives Boards control of their building project. The intention of the scheme is to provide funding to schools to enable them to undertake wanted building projects. The scheme is not intended to leave schools with significant fund-raising needs but for the school to tailor the scope of capital works commissioned to the available funding. A central tenet of the scheme is that the schools, granted discretion and funding, must equally accept responsibility for prioritisation, adherence to statutory regulations, control of costs and ensuring value for money. The decision on whether to continue participating in the scheme or to drop out, if the scope of build is more than the funding envelope permits, is a matter for each school authority.

In the event of unexpected additional costs arising such as difficult site works, planning permission conditions etc., a school may apply to my Department for additional funding.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 368: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to the appointment of a design team for a school extension (details supplied) in County Cork. [10020/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The progression of all large-scale building projects into architectural planning, including that referred to by the Deputy, is considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.