Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 393: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [17233/08]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he will be making available a capital allocation for the building of a new school (details supplied) in County Cork; when the school authorities, including the board of management and principal, will be informed; the length of time he expects the construction period to last; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17855/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 393 and 454 together.

An extension and refurbishment project for the school referred to by the Deputy is in the early stages of architectural planning at an agreed projected enrolment of 500 pupils. Following on from a recent meeting with the school authorities, my Department have confirmed acceptance of the Trustees offer for the sale of a portion of the site with the remainder of the site being gifted by the Trustees. When the site acquisitions issues have been completed, the proposed building project for the school will be considered in the context of the Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 394: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the additional funding he will provide to overcome the substantial shortfall in funding approved for a school extension in a school (details supplied) in County Monaghan, where a deficit of €100,000 is in evidence against the lowest tender received for the said works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17243/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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A grant of €484,000 was sanctioned under the Small Schools Scheme to enable the management authority of the school in question to extend and modernise their school. The Scheme allows Boards of Management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives Boards of Management control of the 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 fundraising 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. The current position is that the school management have appointed a contractor and building works have commenced. I understand that an application for additional funding will be submitted for consideration by the Department. The school will be informed of the decision in duecourse.