Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 422: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if an application by a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25283/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department received an application for funding under the emergency works scheme from the school in question. A decision on the application will be made as soon as possible and the schools will be advised of the outcome.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 423: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will verify that work partially completed at a school (details supplied) in County Galway under the small schools devolved scheme will be completed before September 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25308/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the expansion of the Small Schools Scheme 2007, a grant of €275,000 was sanctioned for the school in question to enable the Board of Management to extend and refurbish their school.

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. A central tenet of the devolved scheme is that the school, granted discretion and funding, must equally accept responsibility for prioritisation, adherence to statutory regulations, as well as control of costs and ensuring value for money.

The school authorities submitted an appeal for significant additional funding which was considered in my Department. However, in line with the original intention of the Small Schools Scheme, it was considered that the school should be encouraged to complete the project within the funding envelope provided and, accordingly, the application for additional grant aid was not approved.

In the current economic climate and with considerable demands on the capital budget of my Department, it is not possible to approve such significant increases in the amounts grant aided to schools. It is the responsibility of the school authorities to manage the resources allocated to them to ensure maximum value for money and to control costs.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25347/08]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 425: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25348/08]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 426: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25349/08]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 428: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25351/08]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 430: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25353/08]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 431: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25354/08]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 436: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the status of a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25359/08]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 437: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25360/08]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 438: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25361/08]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 440: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the status of a school building project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25363/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 424 to 426, inclusive, 428, 430, 431, 436 to 438, inclusive, and 440 together.

The schools to which the Deputy refers have applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for the provision of ancillary accommodation. This type of project attracts a Band 3 Rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building works. The next step for these projects is the appointment of a Design Team.

The progression of all large scale building projects from the initial design stage through to the 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 Department's capital budget, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of these projects at this time.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 427: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the status of a school building project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25350/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers originally applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for the provision of ancillary accommodation. It subsequently received €240,000 for the provision of two mainstream classrooms.

My Department is in the process of assessing the long term needs of the school. This involves, among other things, an examination of the demographics of the area together with any proposed housing developments. When a decision is taken in this matter, it will be communicated directly to the Board of Management. Any resulting building project will be considered for advancement in the context of the multi-annual school building and modernisation programme, the resources available and the priority attaching to the project under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 429: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the status of a school building project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25352/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension project. The project had progressed to the advanced stages of architectural planning. However, due to a significant decline in enrolments, the accommodation brief had to be re-visited and revised. A Band 3 rating attaches to the proposed project under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects.

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 Department's capital budget from higher Band rated projects, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 442 of 8 May 2008, the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25355/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As previously outlined to the Deputy in response Parliamentary Question No. 442 of 8 May 2008, the project to which he refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning.

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, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the further progression of the project at this time.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 433: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 324 of 8 April 2008 the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25356/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that an application has been received for funding for the provision of additional accommodation at the school in question. The application was originally for ancillary accommodation. A more recent application includes a request for funding to provide both classroom and ancillary accommodation. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to tender and construction, 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. 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 the project at this time.