Written answers

Thursday, 17 September 2009

Department of Education and Science

Schools Building Projects

6:00 pm

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare will still proceed to tender and construction in 2009. [31872/09]

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the required extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare will proceed to tender and construction in 2009. [31873/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 99 together.

The Deputy will be aware that the projects to which he refers were both included in my announcement earlier this year of 43 projects to proceed to tender and construction. Information in respect of the current school building programme, including these projects referred to by the Deputy, are now available on my Departments website at www.education.ie. The Stage 2b documentation for both projects was recently received by my Department and are currently under consideration. My Department will revert to the schools on the next steps towards tender and construction when the stage 2(b) submissions have been reviewed.

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the required extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare will proceed to tender and construction in 2009. [31874/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the project at the school to which he refers was included in my announcement earlier this year of 43 projects to proceed to tender and construction. Information in respect of the current school building programme, including the project referred to by the Deputy, is now available on my Departments website at www.education.ie. An application for planning permission was recently lodged with the local authority and I am pleased to inform the Deputy that notification of a decision to grant Planning Permission has been given in the last week. The next step in architectural planning for this project will be a review of a full stage 2(b) submission to my Department. Following receipt and review of the stage 2(b) submission my Department will be in contact with the school regarding progression to tender and construction.

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will sanction the appointment of a design team for the required extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [31875/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt 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. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned an appropriate band rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including the project referred to by the Deputy, are now available on my Departments website at www.education.ie.

The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners. There are four band ratings under these criteria, each of which describes the extent of accommodation required and the urgency attaching to it. Band 1 is the highest priority rating and Band 4 is the lowest. Documents explaining the band rating system are also available on my Department's website.

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 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.

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a design team will be sanctioned for the required extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [31887/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt 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. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned an appropriate band rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including the project referred to by the Deputy, are now available on my Departments website at www.education.ie.

The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners. There are four band ratings under these criteria, each of which describes the extent of accommodation required and the urgency attaching to it. Band 1 is the highest priority rating and Band 4 is the lowest. Documents explaining the band rating system are also available on my Department's website.

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 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.

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Education and Science, further to Parliamentary Question No. 144 of 9 April 2009, when it is expected that the forward planning section will complete its examination and determine the locations where additional accommodation will be required. [31890/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Forward Planning Section of my Department has carried out a study of the country to identify the areas where, due to demographic changes, there may be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary levels over the coming years. This study has been conducted using data from the Central Statistics Office, the General Register Office and the Department of Social & Family Affairs in addition to recent schools' enrolment data.

The study indicates that the requirement for additional primary provision in years 2010, 2011 and 2012 is likely to be greatest in more than 40 selected locations across the country based on significant changes to the demographics of those areas. This information has been circulated to all existing school Patrons who have been invited to bring forward proposals for the expansion of existing schools or indeed to put themselves forward as Patron for any new primary school, should it be required. The requirement for the establishment of new schools will of course be lessened where it is possible to expand and extend existing schools in those areas.

Forward Planning Section is now in the process of carrying out detailed analysis and reports for each of these locations in order to identify the school accommodation requirements for each area up to and including the school year 2014/2015. When the detailed reports are completed for these initial areas identified the Forward Planning Section will continue to work on preparing reports on a priority basis for the remainder of the country.

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps he is taking to provide temporary accommodation for pupils of a school (details supplied) in County Longford, in view of a health and safety issue which has arisen in respect of the inadequate accommodation; if he will provide a definite date for commencement of construction of the promised new school building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31900/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that plans are well in train to re-locate the school to which he refers to alternative accommodation. The planning and Building Unit of my Department is working closely with the school authority to ensure that the transfer to this accommodation is as smooth as possible. With regard to the school's application for a new building, this, in common with all such applications, has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned an appropriate band rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including the project in question, are now available on my Departments website at www.education.ie.

The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners. There are four band ratings under these criteria, each of which describes the extent of accommodation required and the urgency attaching to it. Band 1 is the highest priority rating and Band 4 is the lowest. Documents explaining the band rating system are also available on my Department's website.

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 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.

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