Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress to date regarding a school (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19270/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The project for the school referred to by the Deputy has advanced to the stage that the Department has agreed the Schedule of Accommodation for a new 16-classroom school. The site required for the new school has now been acquired and the process of appointing a design team has commenced. The Department published the advertisement seeking qualified consultants on the public procurement website in January 2008. These re-qualification questionnaires have been received in the Department for assessment and the Department will be back in contact with the school authorities on this matter as soon as possible.

In the interim period pending the provision of a new school building the Department has approved the rental of one further temporary classroom for this school for September 2008 to cater for its immediate accommodation needs. In addition the Department also funded grant-aid of €394,771.72 in 2007 for the provision of adequate car-parking facilities for this school. The building project required to deliver the new school building will be progressed in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme and availability of funding.