Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 752: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she will permit a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 to apply for planning permission for the planned refurbishment and extension; if the delay in doing so is connected to plans to build a new VEC national school in the vicinity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11676/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The proposed project at the school to which the Deputy refers has had its design team appointed and is currently at stage 1, 2 of early architectural planning. Some mechanical/electrical issues have arisen that require consideration by our technical staff and this matter is in hand.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Programme for Government included a commitment to establish a Developing Areas Unit in the Department of Education and Science, dedicated solely to progressing school planning in rapidly developing areas, building on improvements that have already been made in recent years.

This recently established Developing Areas Unit is working on providing educational facilities in rapidly developing areas including Castleknock. In that context, I can confirm that the project at the school in question will be progressed without delay and in the normal manner.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 753: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will include a long-promised new school for Doon-Cappamore, County Limerick, which will amalgamate three second level schools in the area in the next bundle of new school announcements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11683/08]

Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 757: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the new school to replace three schools (details supplied) in County Limerick will be included in the next bundle of schools to be constructed by public private partnership; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11737/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 753 and 757 together.

The school referred to by the Deputy is one of 27 new schools to be provided under my Departments PPP Programme. The First Bundle consisting of four post-primary schools — two in Co. Laois and two in Co. Offaly — are in procurement and is likely to go to construction this year. The Second Bundle, consisting of six schools — 5 post primary and 1 primary school in Counties Cork, Limerick, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow — are in pre procurement and will be offered to the market shortly.

I intend to announce further PPP project bundles during the year and the school referred to by the Deputy will be considered in this context.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 754: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount allocated by her Department for a school extension (details supplied) in County Limerick; the amount applied for by the school authorities; the shortfall that has been created; the way she will address the shortfall for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11684/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the expansion of the Small Schools Scheme, a grant of €484,000 was sanctioned in March 2007 for the school in question to enable the Board of Management to extend and modernise their school.

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 fundraising needs but for the school to tailor the scope of capital works commissioned to the available funding. 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.

A central tenet of the devolved scheme is that the school, granted discretion and funding, must equally accept responsibility for prioritisation, adherence to statutory regulations, control of costs and ensuring value for money.

The school was approved additional funding to cover unavoidable extra costs associated with the project. They have submitted another appeal for additional funding and my Department will be in contact with the school in the matter in the near future.