Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application for building works in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when he expects a decision to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9659/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project to which the Deputy refers was included in my announcement on 16 February of projects authorised to prepare tender documents. The project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Planning Permission was received in November 2009. Subsequently, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) contacted the VEC and my Department concerning the need for an ASD Unit in the area. My Department has since been in discussion with the VEC and the design team to determine how an ASD Unit can be incorporated into the brief for this project.

In December 2009 a delegation from the school and its design team attended a briefing by my Department on the completion of stage 2(b) of architectural planning. My Department is currently awaiting the stage 2(b) submission.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application for building works in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when he expects a decision to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9660/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project to which he refers was included in my announcement on 16 February of projects which have been authorised to prepare tender documents.

Earlier this month, a delegation from the school and its design team attended a briefing by my Department on the completion of stage 2(b) of architectural planning. The Design Team have been authorised to complete this stage of architectural planning and will submit a report to my Department when that work is complete.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application for building works in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when he expects a decision to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9661/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, on 16 February I announced details of 51 major school building projects that will appoint design teams this year. I am pleased to inform the deputy that the project in question is scheduled to have a Design Team appointed in the third quarter of 2010. My Department will contact the school in due course. Details on all of these projects are available on my Department's website.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application for building works in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when he expects a decision to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9662/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding. 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.

In the interim, the school authority applied for a boiler upgrade under the Summer Works Scheme 2010. Following an assessment process, successful projects will be selected for funding from all valid and approved applications on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria published with the Scheme. In keeping with the timetable published with the governing Circular letter, I expect to be in a position to publish the list of successful applicants in Spring 2010.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application for building works in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when he expects a decision to be made. [9663/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding. 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. In the interim, the school authority applied for roof works under the Summer Works Scheme 2010. Following an assessment process, successful projects will be selected for funding from all valid and approved applications on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria published with the Scheme. In keeping with the timetable published with the governing Circular letter, I expect to be in a position to publish the list of successful applicants in Spring 2010.