Written answers
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Department of Education and Science
Schools Building Projects
9:00 am
Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 73: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills her plans to reorganise the school planning and building unit in Tullamore, County Offaly to enable it to mange the planning and construction of school buildings in an efficient manner; the date on which she will implement these proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41278/10]
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that there was a significant reorganisation of the Planning and Building Unit of my Department in 2008. This reorganisation involved the development of expertise in relation to forward planning of future school accommodation needs, the acquisition and implementation of a Geographic Information System, the development of an inventory of school accommodation, the establishment of a dedicated site acquisition team and the establishment of a team to oversee the delivery of modular buildings in areas of rapid population growth. Improved cooperation with local authorities in relation to identification of areas of population growth as well as identification and acquisition of suitable sites for additional school accommodation has also been facilitated by the new structures. I have previously announced that I have asked the officials in the Planning and Building Unit to explore new methods of delivery of projects. I have recently announced the involvement of Louth County Council in the management of the delivery of a school building in Drogheda and I look forward to announcing projects to be delivered by certain VECs in the coming weeks. County Monaghan VEC is already advancing with a major project in this regard. The current structures in the Planning and Building Unit will be kept under review and will be changed as needed in the light of experience.
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