Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 400: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he will make a capital allocation for the building programme of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 20; 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. [18066/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at a very advanced stage of the architectural planning process.

The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

It is not possible at this stage to say when construction will commence on the project referred to by the Deputy.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 401: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he will make a capital allocation for the building programme of a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; 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. [18067/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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It is proposed to provide an extension to the school to which the Deputy refers.

Revised schedules of accommodation have been forwarded to the VEC for acceptance. Once the schedules have been accepted, the question of the appointment of the design team will arise and this will be considered in the context of the Department's school building and modernisation programme.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 402: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he will make capital allocation for the building programme of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 22; 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. [18068/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Agreement has been reached to provide permanent accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers on a V.E.C. owned site. The site was recently master planned to ascertain if it would be feasible to facilitate both this school and two other all-Irish schools on the site.

With the completion of the masterplan, progress on the project can now be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

It is not possible at this stage to say when construction will commence.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he will make capital allocation for the building programme of a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; 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. [18069/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers is currently operating in temporary accommodation on a site that is in the ownership of Co. Dublin VEC. The Department is in consultation with the VEC on the possibility of using this site, together with an additional portion of VEC lands, to cater for this school's long term accommodation needs. A study has been conducted to determine the feasibility of this proposal. Delivery of permanent accommodation for the school in question will be considered in the context of the Department's Building and Modernisation Programme.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 404: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he will make a capital allocation for the building programme of a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; 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. [18070/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware from Minister Hanafin's recent announcement that Educate Together was granted provisional recognition to establish the school referred to. The Department intends to provide accommodation for that school on lands currently in the process of being acquired in Lucan, Co. Dublin.

My Department in the context of Lucan's rapidly developing status is providing as phase I, an 8 classroom school with appropriate ancillary space on the site to accommodate the school from September 2008. When the new school building is fully developed it will comprise 16 mainstream classrooms and appropriate ancillary space as per Department guidelines.

The patron of the school has been informed.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 405: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he will make a capital allocation for the building programme of the new schools which he has announced for Kilcolgan-Clarenbridge, Ballinasloe, Tuam and Carraroe; when the school authorities, including the board of management and principal, will be informed in each case; and the length of time he expects the construction period to last in the different projects. [18095/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Newly established schools are generally required to undergo a period of provisional recognition, during which the operation of the school and the growth of pupil numbers are monitored. Among the factors to be considered is the long-term viability of the school, current and projected enrolments and suitability of accommodation.

During the period of provisional recognition, it is the responsibility of the school patron to provide interim accommodation. This accommodation must be capable of meeting the needs of the developing school until permanent recognition has been secured and my Department is in a position to acquire a site and provide a permanent school building. Interim accommodation must comply at all times with planning, fire and health and safety and building regulations.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 406: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he will make a capital allocation for the building programme of a school (details supplied); 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. [18099/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Department is exploring as an option the provision of a new building on the existing school site. The further progression of the acquisition of the site and the associated building project will be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. It is not possible at this stage to indicate when a new school building will be available.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 407: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in the case of a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary which has applied for funding for much needed additional classroom facilities. [18107/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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A grant was sanctioned in March 2007 to enable the management authority of the school in question to extend and modernise their school. This scheme allows Boards of Management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives them control of the building project.

I understand that construction is due to commence during the summer holidays and the initial portion of the grant will be paid to the school at that stage.

Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 408: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the payment of grant aid to a primary school (details supplied). [18122/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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A grant was sanctioned in March 2007 for the school in question to enable the management authority 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 them control of the building project.

I understand that construction work is due to commence in the next few weeks and the initial payment of the grant will then be paid to the school.