Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress regarding an application to provide an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24388/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for capital funding for an extension project. The architectural planning of the project is at an early stage. 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. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department and with the level of activity in the School Building Programme, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the further progression of the project at this time.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a school (details supplied) in County Galway; the progress that has been made on this application since it first applied for a permanent school more than ten years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24396/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The acquisition of the site for the school in question will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally. I am not in a position to say at this stage when the acquisition will be concluded.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 313: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his plans for a new secondary school in an area (details supplied) in County Dublin; when this school will be open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24532/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is conscious of the extent of housing developments in the area referred to by the Deputy and the consequences which this has for school provision. Because of this, substantial additional accommodation has been provided in the area by my Department at both primary and post-primary level in recent years and this is set to continue for the foreseeable future.

Based on current demographic trends, my Department anticipates that there will be a need for a further post-primary school in the area referred to in the medium term and it has asked the Local Authority to identify a site for this development. A timeframe for the delivery of the school will be known when a suitable site has been identified and acquired. My Department is conscious of the lead-in period for the delivery of a post-primary school and it would be anxious to conclude the site issue as soon as possible. It will continue to engage with the local authority until this matter is resolved.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 314: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he will give permission to commence full construction of a school (details supplied) in County Limerick. [24536/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Tenders have been invited and returned and the project is now awaiting approval to proceed to construction. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. I am currently reviewing with my officials the Department's spending plans for this year, I am in the middle of this process and it will not be complete for some time. I will not be making decisions on any further capital expenditure until that process is completed. When this is done the school management will be informed of the position without delay.