Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason the design team to initiate the architectural planning of an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Cork has not been appointed; and if he will confirm that there will be no further delay. [37114/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has received an application from the school to which the Deputy refers for large scale capital funding for an extension and refurbishment to provide accommodation for a projected long term enrolment of 550 pupils. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a 2.4 band rating.

The prioritisation criteria were drawn up 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.

This band rating assigned to this school reflects the fact that there is a deficit of mainstream accommodation. However, this deficit does not represent a substantial or significant proportion of the school's overall accommodation needs. The band rating also takes into account the fact that a refurbishment is required which is not extensive in scope. The next step with this project is for a design team to be appointed. I will consider the project, together with all other large scale building projects, in the context of the projects to be progressed in 2010 taking into account its band rating and the level of demand on my Departments capital budget.

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.