Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will approve the recommendation outlined in correspondence from this Deputy on 20 October 2009 to allow grant aid in respect of an all-purpose room for a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as recommended by the school inspector in order that the current project, which is approved, and the all-purpose room can be completed in 2010. [44710/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers made an application to my Department in February 2008 for large scale capital funding for a classroom, a resource room, a GP room and ancillary facilities. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2 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.

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.

My Department sanctioned a devolved grant of €60,000 to enable the management authorities of the school in question to build a Resource Room in March 2008. It is understood that the school authority decided to build a Resource Room and an All-Purpose Room costing €323,875.00 without the approval of my Department and are now seeking retrospective funding. As the Deputy will be aware, it is the policy of my Department not to provide retrospective funding for works which were carried out without Departmental approval.