Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 431: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the stage of development of a new school (details supplied) in County Wexford for pupils with special needs is at; when it is envisaged that construction will commence. [21112/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The project referred to by the Deputy was included in my announcement, earlier this year, of 25 high priority projects to commence architectural planning. My Department will shortly be in contact with the school to finalise the brief for this project and to agree the schedules of accommodation, following which, a design team will be appointed. At this early stage, when architectural planning is just beginning, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe as to when construction on the new school will commence.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if officials from his Department, in their routine meetings with officials in the planning department at Kildare County Council, have discussed the building requirements of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; his plans to meet the accommodation requirements of this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21130/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that my Department has received a major capital application from the school to which he refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band rating of 2.2. 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 a matter of course, there is ongoing liaison between my Department and local authorities to establish the location, scale and pace of any major proposed developments and their possible implications for school provision. Officials from my Department meet regularly with Kildare County Council in this regard. However, the school referred to by the Deputy has not been specifically discussed at these meetings.