Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1147: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding approval for an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [29403/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding for a new school project. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and has been assigned a band rating of 1.1.

Following a site examination it was established that additional land is required to extend the existing school site to facilitate the proposed building project of a 16 classroom school. My Department is liaising with the neighbouring Community School with regard to a proposed land transfer to achieve an extended school site.

When the issue of the site has been resolved, the progression of this project, as with all large scale building projects, 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.