Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to meet in full an application for major capital funding at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20239/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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In 2007 the school in question received approval to build additional classrooms under the devolved Permanent Accommodation Scheme (PAS). The purpose of the PAS is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake building works which will address the school's long term accommodation needs. Under the terms of the Scheme, school authorities are empowered to manage these works with guidance from and minimal interaction with the Department. Devolving funding to school management authorities allows them to have control of their projects, assists in moving projects more quickly to tender and construction and can also deliver better value for money.

The scheme is not intended to leave schools with significant fundraising needs; rather the terms of the Scheme require the schools 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. The Board of Management submitted an appeal for additional funding which was unsuccessful. They were advised to use the grant to achieve the maximum accommodation possible taking into consideration the extra cost which has arisen.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to meet in full the permanent classroom requirements at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if his Department received stage three submission from the board of management design team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20245/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The project at the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at stage 3 of the architectural planning process. The Client for this project is the School Board of Management. The stage 3 submission is currently being reviewed by the Client's design team in advance of being referred to my Department for approval.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to meet in full the permanent classroom requirements at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if his Department received stage three submission from the school's design team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20246/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Officials from my Department are still awaiting a date for receipt of the Stage 3 submission (i.e. Developed Sketch Scheme) from the school's Design Team. On receipt of this date a review meeting will be organised between the Board of Management, its Design Team and the Department to assess the submission.

Question No. 258 answered with Question No. 246.