Written answers

Tuesday, 6 December 2011

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Building Projects

7:00 pm

Photo of Joanna TuffyJoanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 84 of 24 November 2011, if he will confirm that this reply refers to a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38601/11]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In preparing the answer referred to by the Deputy (Question No. 84 of 24 November 2011) my officials contacted the Deputy's office to seek clarification as there are two schools with the same name in that area of County Dublin. The answer provided on 24 November referred to the girls national school as identified by the Deputy's office. The details provided in respect of this school are correct.

The other school which is a mixed gender school is currently at tender stage.

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will indicate the current stages of an application for a new primary school (details supplied) in County Longford; when it is likely to be approved to go to construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38605/11]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The current status of all projects on the school building programme, including the school referred to by the Deputy, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this will be updated regularly throughout the year.

The Government's Medium Term Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework, which was published on 10 November 2011, sets out the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years. The priority now is to focus on major school projects and smaller projects devolved to schools to meet the demographic demands. The primary aim will be to ensure that every child will have access to a school place.

I have previously committed to publishing a five year plan early in the new year outlining the school building projects to be constructed in that time.

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will indicate the current stages of an application for a new primary school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; when it is likely to be approved to go to construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38606/11]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The provision of a new building for the school to which the Deputy refers necessitates the acquisition of a site. I wish to advise the Deputy that a suitable site has been identified for the proposed school and my Department is working with the local authority to acquire this site.

When the site is acquired, a project for the school will be considered within the context of my Department's Multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. In light of current competing demands on the capital budget of my Department and the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the current status of an application for a new primary school (details supplied); if same will be included as part of the capital allocation for 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38607/11]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The major building project at the school referred to by the Deputy was included in the Work Programme for 2011 announced last January. The Design Team are currently working on finalising the Stage 2(b) Submission (Detailed Design) which will then be submitted to my Department for review. Upon completion of Stage 2(b) the Design Team will submit the required documentation to the Department. Subsequently officials from my Department will be in contact with the Board of Management with regard to the further progression of the project.

I recently announced that I will be publishing a detailed plan on an annual basis in relation to planned expenditure on individual school major projects. The first of these in relation to 2012 expenditure will be published in December 2011. All school building projects currently in architectural planning will be considered in the context of these programmes, taking into account the funding available, the building costs involved and the progression of other major projects required to meet demographic needs.

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