Written answers

Tuesday, 15 December 2009

Department of Education and Science

Schools Building Projects

11:00 pm

Photo of Bobby AylwardBobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 388: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will increase the grant approved to the board of management of a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny towards the cost of building a hall in view of the fact that the amount of grant approved and fund-raising locally will not meet the cost of this project. [46769/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The School to which the Deputy refers made two applications to the Department in the 2008. The first application, in February 2008, was for large scale capital funding to provide a classroom, a resource room, a GP room and ancillary facilities. The application was assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2.4 rating. 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.

The second application, in March 2008, was in respect of additional accommodation for a Resource room. The application was assessed and an all in devolved grant for €60,000.00 was approved. My Department has since learned that the school proceeded with a project involving work over and above that approved, leading to additional costs. As the Deputy will be aware, it is not the policy of my Department to provide retrospective funding to schools for work which was carried out without prior approval. A letter to this effect issued recently to the school.

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