Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 232: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that more than €250,000 has been spent on renting prefabs over the past ten years for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; when this school will receive the permanent buildings that it requires; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20761/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers applied to the Department for capital funding for an extension project in 2000. The delivery of this project will involve the replacement of the prefabs currently on site. The application was assessed in accordance with published prioritisation criteria for large scale 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, is now available on the 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 the Department's website.

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 the school building and modernisation programme. However, in view of the level of demand on the Department's capital budget, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.