Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 1240: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if progress has been made on the provision of funding for a school (details supplied) at a new site in Ballinteer, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33760/09]

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. 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 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.

In order to determine the long term accommodation needs of the school in question, my Department have been in contact with its Special Needs Organiser (SENO). My Department will be in contact with the school authorities when the SENO's report has been received. Thereafter, the progression of any project for the school will be considered in the context of my Department's 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 a project at this time.