Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason he has refused a school (details supplied) in County Dublin permission to refurbish the school building and construct a new gymnasium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15985/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extensive sports hall refurbishment and the replacement of temporary accommodation.

The project has been assigned a Band 2.4 rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. 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.

As the Deputy may be aware, the school has already received a total of €910,000 under the Summer Works Scheme in 2005, 2006 and 2007 for improvement works to the school.