Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 492: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date on the proposed amalgamation of two schools (details supplied) in County Laois; her plans to progress this proposed amalgamation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22879/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received an application for large scale capital funding to provide accommodation to cater for the amalgamation of the two primary schools in the town to which she refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 1.4 rating.

A technical inspection of the existing buildings found that neither would be suitable to accommodate the amalgamated school.

The progression of this project, including the determination as to the acquisition of a suitable site, as with all large scale building projects, will be considered in the context of the 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.