Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the provision of the new facilities at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12337/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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County Kildare Vocational Education Committee as client/contracting authority for the project referred to by the Deputy, is currently re-locating the school and extending capacity to 1,000 pupils. The project is currently in construction and is due to reach completion later this year.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the application for major capital funding by the management authority of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if he expects to respond favourably to this request in the near future; the expected timeframe for implementation of funding for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12338/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for large scale capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design through to construction phase will be considered 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 my Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in view of the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 257 of 21 May 2008 in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12339/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the school to which he refers was included in my announcement on 12 February of forty three major school building projects which are to progress to tender and construction this year. Representatives from the board of management and the school's design team attended a briefing in my Department's offices in Tullamore on the 19 March at which they were appraised of the next steps necessary to progress this project to tender and construction.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the date he received an application for major capital funding from a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; when same is expected to be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12340/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the current or expected position regarding the provision of a new school and extra facilities required at Straffan, County Kildare; the developmental procedures concluded or pending; when it is expected that all procedures will be finalised with a view to conclusion of the project in readiness for the occupation; the projected date in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12372/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 234 together.

The school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department for large scale capital funding in May 2006. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered 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.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to meet in full the application for major capital funding at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12341/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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A major capital project delivering a new 8 classroom school was completed in 2006 for the school referred to by the Deputy. In 2007 the school in question received approval to build additional classrooms under the devolved Permanent Accommodation Scheme (PAS). The Board of Management submitted an appeal for substantial additional funding which was unsuccessful. The Board was advised to use the grant already sanctioned to deliver the maximum accommodation possible.

The purpose of the PAS is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake building works which will address the school's long term accommodation needs. Under the terms of the Scheme, school authorities are empowered to manage these works with guidance from and minimal interaction with the Department. Devolving funding to school management authorities allows them to have control of their projects, assists in moving projects more quickly to tender and construction and can also deliver better value for money. 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.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the date he received an application for major capital funding from a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; when same is expected to be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12342/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department received an application for large scale capital funding from the school to which he refers in October 2004. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered 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.