Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for school building funding from a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9608/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The project for the school to which the Deputy refers is included in the 2011 School Building Work Programme to complete tender documents and proceed to tender this year. Planning Permission has been secured and my Department is currently awaiting submission of the stage 2(b) report, including tender documents, from the school and its design team. When the stage 2(b) submission has been received and examined and assuming no issues arise, the project will then proceed to tender stage.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress, if any, in plans to provide an extension at a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if his officials have met with the board of management; if he will report on that meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9626/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a Band 2 rating.

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 available on my Department's website.

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 Forward Planning Section of my Department is finalising its analysis of all areas in the country in order to determine the level of additional school provision which will be required at both primary and post primary level up to 2017. Overall primary and post-primary requirements are being considered in this context.

The progression of all large scale building projects arising from Forward Planning Section's analysis will be considered in the context of my Department's School Building and Modernisation Programme. My officials will be in contact with the school authorities shortly in relation to their application.