Written answers

Thursday, 2 July 2009

Department of Education and Science

Schools Building Projects

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirm that he made a statement at a meeting (details supplied) to the effect that if this school pursued a public protest route in respect of their application to obtain a successful project from the schools building programme, that their application would not be progressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26839/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that I met a delegation from the school to which the Deputy refers in January of this year. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department operates a prioritisation system for school building projects, details of which are published on my Department's website. My Department has received an application for major capital funding for the provision of a new building by the school referred to by the Deputy. The application has been assessed and has been assigned a band 2.2 rating under the prioritisation criteria for large scale projects.

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 the 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.

At the meeting on 7th January, 2009, I outlined the position to the Board of Management and indicated that I would take the views of the Board into consideration at the appropriate time. I also indicated that it was not possible for me to give any commitments in relation to the time-frame for the progression of a building project at the school. I did not say that their application would not be progressed. I did not make a statement to the effect suggested by the Deputy.

I should also point out that my Department provides devolved funding under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) and under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) to enable individual school authorities to carry out small scale capital works. The school in question received funding under the 2007 SWS to allow it to upgrade its toilet facilities. No further applications for funding for minor capital works have been received to date. Any such applications made by the school will be given full consideration.

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