Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1213: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when construction of a new school will commence at a location (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33673/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The project to which the Deputy refers was recently tendered. The school's Design Team is currently preparing the Tender Report. When this report is completed and submitted to my Department, the project will be considered for progression to the next stage i.e. the award stage.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1214: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of plans to realign and rationalise primary school provision at a location (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33674/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that it is my Department's intention to facilitate the rationalisation of primary school provision in the area to which the Deputy refers.

Applications for building projects from the schools to enable this have 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 projects in question, are now available on my Department's 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 these projects, 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 Department's capital budget, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the projects at this time.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1215: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of plans to realign and rationalise primary school provision at a location (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33675/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that it is my Department's intention to facilitate the rationalisation of primary school provision in the area to which the Deputy refers. Two building projects are needed to facilitate this, one of which is currently in the early stages of architectural planning.

Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including the projects in question, are now available on my Department's 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 these projects, 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 Department's capital budget, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the projects at this time.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1216: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when an announcement will be made in respect of a bundle of schools proposed for delivery under the public private partnership process, tenders for which are currently under consideration by the National Development Finance Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33676/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Final tenders for the second bundle of Primary/Post Primary schools consisting of six schools were received by the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) on the 1st July 2009.

The tender evaluation process is nearing completion and it is expected that the preferred bidder will be announced shortly. Subject to the planning process it is envisaged that construction work on all six schools will commence in Spring 2010 and that the schools should be ready for occupation in September 2011.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 1217: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33678/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The project to which the Deputy refers has been tendered and a preferred bidder identified. Officials in my Department recently authorised the Board of Management to commence the award process. The first stage of this process is to request the preferred bidder to submit various documents such as his insurances, bond, tax clearance etc. If\when the preferred bidder submits these documents and they are found to be in order, the project will be considered for the next stage which is the award of the contract.