Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 591: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will meet the board of management of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 1 with a view to discussing the 25% funding which his Department agreed for the project to be completed by 2010; and the reason it is obliged to depend on the Dublin Docklands Authority to fund a substantial part of the shortfall. [35618/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 592: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason his Department's percentage of the €15 million due to be spent on the works agreed for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 1 is only 25%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35619/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 592 together.

The Dublin Dockland Development Authority (DDDA) came forward with an offer to my Department to make a contribution towards the building costs of the project to which the Deputy refers. It also stipulated the value of its offer. As the project is in the early stages of architectural planning, I am not in a position to comment further on the details of the offer because to do so could potentially affect the tendering process for the project at a future stage. I can say, however, that it is inaccurate to suggest that the Department's contribution will be limited to 25%. The DDDA's offer has a ceiling and the percentage value of that will not be known until the project is actually tendered. The offer is, however, both significant and welcome.

The Department's Professional and Technical staff is currently nearing completion of its review of the Stage One submission for the project. When completed, the next step will be to discuss its findings with the Board of Management. Once this review is finalised, my officials will arrange this discussion.