Joe Behan (Wicklow, Independent)
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Question 630: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30864/10]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 648: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the board of management is having difficulties in providing the required facilities due to a lack of funding; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the school may have to refuse entry to the school from 2011 due to funding issues; her plans to provide additional support and funding to this school; the further position regarding a strategic plan for the delivery of primary education in Wicklow Town; the steps she will take to ensure support for new accommodation for this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31019/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 630 and 648 together.

I can confirm that the school to which the Deputies refer has made an application to my Department for major capital funding for a new school building. 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 Deputies, is 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 Department's capital budget, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time. I would note that when grant aid was approved for additional accommodation at the school in 2009, this was on the basis that the additional accommodation would meet the school's accommodation needs for a number of years.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 631: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when work will commence at a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30942/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Design Team recently submitted the supplementary tender report, for the school building project to which the Deputy refers, to the Department. Following review of the supplementary tender report my Department requested, and is currently awaiting receipt of, clarifications relating to some of the material submitted. When this documentation has been received, assuming no further issues arise, the contract can be awarded and the project will progress to construction.