Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 224: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the application for a new school building by a national school (details supplied) in County Cork. [22448/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The school to which the Deputy refers has 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 1 rating.

My Department has reached agreement, in principle, in relation to the proposed acquisition of a site for a permanent building for the school. Liaison with the Local Authority on the matter is ongoing and an outline planning application is currently being prepared. Due to the commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions, I am not in a position to comment further at this time on issues relating to the site.

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.

All large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase are being progressed in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme and the available financial resources. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of my Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.