Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the extension to a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14898/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for large scale capital funding from the school to which he refers. It has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria of my Department and assigned a Band rating of 2.5.

As the Deputy will be aware, in February, I announced details of 43 major building projects to proceed to tender and construction and 25 high priority projects to commence architectural planning. The project to which the Deputy refers was not included in this announcement. Therefore, it is unlikely that it will be progressed in 2009.

The progression of all large scale building projects, including the project in question, 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.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the extension to a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14899/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The proposed building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is currently awaiting the appointment of a Design Team. As the Deputy will be aware, in February, I announced details of 43 major building projects to proceed to tender and construction and 25 high priority projects to commence architectural planning.

The project to which the Deputy refers was not included in this announcement. Therefore, it is unlikely that it will be progressed in 2009. The progression of all large scale building projects, including the project in question, 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.

Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a company which was contracted by the State to build two new primary schools in Gorey, County Wexford which engaged sub-contractors who left local businesses without substantial payment for goods and services should be considered for any more Government contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14907/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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A school building project is a complex arrangement of contractual relationships between the client, the main contractor, specialist sub-contractors, domestic sub-contractors, suppliers of materials, suppliers of plant etc. In general all sub-contractors employed on school building projects are employed directly by the Main Contractor or indirectly by the Main Contractor through other sub-contractors. It is a matter for all sub-contractors to agree terms and conditions and a schedule of payments with the Main Contractor as their direct employer. It is unreasonable to expect any company within the chain to be held to account for issues relating to one of the other companies for which it has no direct control of. The company to which the Deputy refers is not in breach of any rules or regulations governing public procurement. As such it is open to this company to tender for any future public works contracts.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he has awarded the contract for the construction of the new national school in Kill, County Kildare; and, if not, the reason for same. [14927/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Following an initial pre-qualification process, ten contractors were invited to tender and seven valid tenders were returned for the new school in Kill, Co Kildare. The valid tenders are currently being examined and subject to the necessary technical and financial approvals, it is expected that I will be in a position to place a contract in the near future.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of tenders received for the required extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if a contract has been awarded; and, if not, the reason for same. [14929/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers is one of projects announced in September 2008 to be re-tendered with a view to going on site as soon as possible. For this project to go to construction it needs to be re-tendered under the new Department of Finance form of contract for public capital projects. The project has been pre-qualified and it is expected to go to tender shortly. The Tendering Authority will be the Board of Management and it will be a public tender process in the normal way. My Department has been in contact with the school authority in this regard and is providing ongoing advice and assistance.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1623 of 27 January 2009, the amount of funding available for the purchase of sites for new national schools in 2009; and if he will purchase a site for the permanent school building for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare in 2009. [14937/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware the School Building and Modernisation Programme is generally divided into a number of components or sub-programmes. These include Large-Scale Building Projects (new school buildings and major extensions/refurbishments); Devolved Schemes, Emergency Works; Site Acquisitions; Remediation programmes (asbestos removal, radon mitigation); the provision of Temporary Accommodation; Furniture and Equipment grants and the Minor Works Grant. The Deputy will appreciate that the level of funding available for site acquisitions is commercially sensitive and in the circumstances I am not in a position to disclose same, as the release of such information may prejudice future and ongoing negotiations.

I take it that the Deputy is referring to the same school as in Question No. 1623 of 27 January 2009. The acquisition of the site for this school will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to the Department for school buildings generally. In light of the many competing demands on the capital budget it is not possible to give an indicative time frame for the acquisition of the school site at this time.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school project (details supplied) in County Kildare will proceed to tender and construction in 2009. [14938/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy 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. The project is currently at an early stage of architectural planning.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school project (details supplied) in County Kildare will proceed to construction in 2009. [14939/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy 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. The project is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the required extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare will proceed to construction in 2009. [14940/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy 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. The project is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the required extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare will proceed to construction in 2009. [14941/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy 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. The project is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning.