Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 658: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the proposed new national school at a location (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4774/10]

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 the Department for major capital funding. The application has been assessed in accordance with published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects and assigned a band 1 rating. As part of the assessment process a review of the long term projected staffing determined there should be a Principal plus 8 assistant mainstream class teachers. This was notified to the school authorities in January 2007. Following a site visit to the school, it was decided that the existing school site could not accommodate a new 8 classroom school and that a new school is required. The Patron has advised that parish land to the rear of the existing school site will be made available to accommodate the provision of the new 8 classroom school.

The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of the current competing demands on the capital budget, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.