Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 159: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to ensure that a new school is provided at a location (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the current arrangement in relation to accommodation is only for a temporary period of three years, and if the opportunity to secure additional lands which is necessary, to provide space for the original is also time limited; when this school is likely to proceed to tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40324/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department in 2005 for large scale capital funding for a new school building. The application was assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band rating of 1.3. 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 available on the Department's website at www.education.ie.

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 the 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. In December 2009, my Department approved grant-aid to facilitate the re-location of the school to its current site. Officials from my Department are in ongoing contact with the school authority regarding their accommodation situation and their proposals regarding the long term accommodation solution for the school.