Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 525: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in respect of funding of a school (details supplied) in County Roscommon; his plans for the completion of the project and the shortfall of €300,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42128/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the expansion of the Small Schools Scheme, a grant was allocated to Croghan NS, to enable the management authority to build a new three classroom school. Additional funding was provided for unavoidable extra costs relating to planning conditions and ground works. 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. My Department has no record of having received an application for additional funding to cover a shortfall in funding of €300,000.