Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 730: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the current and projected enrolment for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if he has received an application for additional temporary accommodation at this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23263/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for large-scale capital funding from the school to which he refers, however no application for additional temporary accommodation has been received to date. In the event of additional accommodation being required at short notice it is open to a school to apply to my Department for the provision of temporary accommodation. The current enrolments for the school at 30/9/07 were 549; the enrolment trend over the last 5 years indicates that there has been an increase of 24% in that period.

The progression of all major projects including this project will be considered on an ongoing basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of these projects at this time.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 731: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the current and projected enrolment for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if he has received an application for additional temporary accommodation at this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23264/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There is no record in my Department of an application from the school referred to by the Deputy for additional temporary accommodation. The school was approved for funding under the Permanent Accommodation Scheme in 2007, to provide classroom/resource rooms. The school management has indicated to my Department that the project will go to construction this month. The purpose of this scheme is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake small extensions which will address the school's long-term accommodation needs.

Under the terms of the Schemes, school authorities are empowered to manage these works with detailed 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.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 732: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the projected growth in the population of an area (details supplied) in County Kildare he will include this area in the list of towns classified as rapidly growing areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23265/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The centre referred to by the Deputy has not been selected for designation as a developing area. However, this does not preclude it from being selected as a developing area in the future having regard to demographic trends in the town. These will be reviewed in my Department on a regular basis, with a view to projecting future enrolments and the requirement for additional school accommodation in the area.