Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding building projects for school in County Donegal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15211/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet the demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The five year programme announced recently is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that context, it was not possible to advance all applications for capital funding concurrently. The building project for the post primary school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning and the planning permission recently granted by the local authority is currently under appeal to An Bord Pleanála. The second primary school referred to by the Deputy is currently tendering for a design team. The remaining schools referred to by the Deputy are awaiting commencement of the tender process for the appointment of a design team.

The school building projects currently in or commencing architectural planning, including the projects referred to by the Deputy, will continue to be advanced incrementally over time within the context of the funding available. However, in light of current competing demands on the Department's capital budget, it is not possible at this time to indicate when these projects will be progressed to tender and construction.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Cork that did not appear on any of the building programme lists released yesterday; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15222/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet the demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The five year programme announced recently is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that context, it was not possible to advance all applications for capital funding concurrently.

The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are currently working on the Stage 2a Submission (Developed Sketch Design). School building projects currently in architectural planning, including the project referred to by the Deputy, will continue to be advanced incrementally over time within the context of the funding available.

However, in light of current competing demands on the Department's capital budget, it is not possible at this time to indicate when this project will be progressed to tender and construction stage.