John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 487: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no permanent structures to accommodate school pupils have been built in Tramore, County Waterford since 1982, in spite of the fact that the town has been identified by his Department as an area of rapid development; if he plans to develop an overall strategy to address the permanent accommodation needs of all schools in Tramore; when such a strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43782/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Since 2004 my Department has provided funding under the Summer Works Scheme and/or Emergency Works Grant for Stella Maris, the CBS, Holy Cross NS and Glór na Mara NS in Tramore. This funding has enabled these schools to carry out works such as windows replacement, heating systems/pipes, ramps, replacement of water tank and girders, and fire alarm.

Applications for major extensions are planned for Holy Cross National School and Glór na Mara National School. The building project for Holy Cross National School is currently at Stage 2b (detailed design) whereas the proposed building project for Glór na Mara National School is at an early stage of architectural planning.

An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school for Gaelscoil Philib Barún has been assessed and the long-term projected staffing figure on which accommodation needs will be based has been determined and notified to the school.

My Department announced a Public Private Partnership Programme in 2005 which included a project for Tramore consisting of a new school to provide 1,000 pupil places for the amalgamation of CBS Tramore & Stella Maris.

As an interim measure while the schools in Tramore are awaiting their extensions/new buildings my Department has sanctioned the rental/purchase of temporary accommodation.

The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to tender and construction, including the projects in Tramore will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. In light of current competing demands on my Department's capital budget, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the further progression of these projects at this time.