Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a comprehensive report on the status of the application for a new school (details supplied) in an area in County Westmeath; if same will be now expedited in view of the urgency of the provision of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2612/12]

Ruairi 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 new site and a suitable site has been identified. My Department sought the assistance of Westmeath County Council in acquiring the site and requested that they commence negotiations, with the landowners, with a view to securing title to the lands and transferring these lands to me. I understand that discussions with the land owners did not result in agreement and that the Council has initiated a compulsory purchase order to acquire the lands. As part of the process, I understand that the land owners were served with the appropriate notices.

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. 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.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made in respect of the planning and provision of a new school (details supplied) in an area in County Longford; if same will be now expedited in view of the urgency of the provision of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2613/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for capital funding for a new school. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale capital projects and the appropriate band rating has been assigned. 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.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government's Medium Term Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework, which was published on 10th November 2011, sets out the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years. In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects and smaller projects devolved to schools to meet the demographic demands will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. On that basis, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of a project for the school at this time. I also wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has approved grant support to the school to facilitate re-location to the current site.