Written answers

Wednesday, 16 December 2009

Department of Education and Science

Schools Building Projects

11:00 pm

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 410: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of an appeal for capital funding by a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47701/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that the Department has received a request from the school referred by the Deputy to review their band rating under the prioritisation criterion. This request is currently being considered and a reply will issue to the school shortly. As the Deputy will be aware, the school's application for major capital works is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction is dependent on the prioritisation of competing demands on the funding available under my Department's capital budget. The proposed building project for this school will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme for 2010 and subsequent years.

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 411: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a permanent classroom extension will be sanctioned in respect of school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [47730/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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In 2000, the School to which the Deputy refers made an application to my Department for capital funding to provide a multi-purpose room, an administration room, a Library/Resource area, a general purpose room, a storage/circulation area and ancillary facilities. The application was assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 3.2 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.

In the interim, funding is available through the Temporary Accommodation Scheme in order to provide grant-aid towards the provision of additional temporary school accommodation where an absolute need is demonstrated and the need is immediate and either the rental of temporary accommodation or purchase of prefabricated accommodation is the appropriate solution. The school in question has availed of this funding in the past and currently rents an 80m2 classroom.

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when finance will be sanctioned for a sports hall at a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [47731/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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In 2008, the School to which the Deputy refers made two applications to my Department for capital funding. 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 substantial additional costs. The additional costs, inter alia, related to the provision of a All Purpose Room. 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 has issued to the school authority.

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