Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 482: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the most recent position regarding the provision of new schools (details supplied) in County Westmeath; the schedule of accommodations for these provisions; and the timeframe for the construction and completion of the new schools. [7165/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The first school to which the Deputy refers is one of seven schools which I have approved for inclusion in the 3rd Bundle of schools to be procured under the Public Private Partnership process. This bundle is in the pre-procurement stage which involves the preparation of a detailed output specification and Public Sector Benchmark and the submission of an outline planning permission for each site. On successful completion of this process, the Bundle will be handed over to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for procurement. The indicative timeframe for the delivery of a PPP school currently stands at approximately 4 years from the date the Bundle is formally announced. A new building to accommodate 1,000 pupils is being provided for the school in question.

With regard to the second and the fourth schools to which the Deputy refers, I am pleased to be able to inform him that building projects for these schools were included in my recent announcement of projects which will be progressing in 2009. Specifically, the building project for the second named school will shortly commence architectural planning. My Department is providing a new 16 classroom building for this school. The building project for the fourth named school, which will provide a new six classroom facility, will be proceeding to tender and construction.

A project for the third school to which the Deputy refers is not included in my recent announcement and, therefore, it is unlikely that this project will be progressed in 2009. However, the progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation programme. In light of current competing demands on the capital budget of my Department it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of this project at this time.