Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 683: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 5 June 2008 the typical timeframe for clarifying whether or not a conservation architect is required for a school building project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22969/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The timeframe for the appointment of a conservation architect on a project can vary according to the complexity of the project in question, the information available to the Department and the school and the likely timeframe for the advancement of the project.

My Department attempts to ensure that, where required, a conservation architect, along with all other consultants necessary for a project, is appointed only when required, in order to avoid unnecessary expenditure on professional fees.

In the case of the school in question, a conservation architect was asked in February to quote for the fees that would be incurred to engage him to carry out a report on the costs associated with planning conditions that might arise in relation to the project in question.

This quotation was received, but no decision has been made as yet to engage this, or any, conservation architect, as the project has not yet been approved to proceed to architectural planning.