Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 387: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the building project at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8; the band level of the school; the timeframe for this building work to be carried out; if her attention has been drawn to the need for additional classrooms in this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16526/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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On 16th February last, details of large scale capital projects proceeding under my Department's Capital programme for 2010 were announced. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a project for the school to which she refers, and which has a band 1 rating, was included in that announcement for the appointment of a design team in the fourth quarter of this year. The school authority will be contacted at the appropriate time in relation to the steps to be taken to enable the design team appointment. In the meantime, an application from the school for additional accommodation is currently being examined and a decision on this application will issue to the school authority in due course.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 388: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school building project (details supplied) in Dublin 12; if she will expedite the building of classrooms and sports hall, promised since 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16527/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy 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 an appropriate band 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, is 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.