Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the recent publication of the five year school building programme if he will clarify the situation regarding a proposed new school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15533/12]

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 Stage 1 Submission was recently submitted to the Department and is currently being reviewed. The 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 progress to tender and construction.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 169: To ask the Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén uair a bhfuil sé i gceist aige síneadh a cheadú do scoil i nGaillimh (sonraí tugtha); cén fáth nach raibh an scoil seo sa phlean cúig bliana do scoileanna a d'fhógair an tAire le gairid; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [15534/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I bhfianaise an riachtanais atá ann lena chinntiú go mbíonn rochtain ag gach aon pháiste ar ionad scoile, beidh sé ina phríomhfhócas ag an infheistíocht chapitil i scoileanna sna blianta amach romhainn, tionscadail mhóra scoile a sheachadadh chun freastal ar na héilimh dhéimeagrafacha ar fud an náisiúin. Tá n plean chúig bliana a fógraíodh le déanaí dírithe ar fhreastal ar na riachtanais dhéimeagrafacha sin. Sa chomhthéacs sin, níorbh fhéidir na hiarratais uile ar mhaoiniú capitil a cur chun cinn go comhthráthach.

Tá an tionscadal mór tógála don scoil dá dtagraíonn an Teachta ag ardchéim phleanáil ailtireachta faoi láthair agus thug Aonad Pleanála agus Tógála mo Roinne faomhadh d'aighneacht Chéim 2(b) (Dearadh Mionsonraithe) ar 10ú Eanáir 2012. I bhfianaise na n-éileamh iomaíocha faoi láthair ar bhuiséad caipitil mo Roinne, ní féidir ag an tráth seo an tionscadal a chur ar aghaidh chun tairisceana agus tógála.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 170: To ask the Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén uair a bhfuil sé i gceist aige síneadh a cheadú do scoil i gContae na Gaillimhe (sonraí tugtha); cén fáth nach raibh an scoil seo sa phlean cúig bliana do scoileanna a d'fhógair an tAire le gairid; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [15535/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Mar is eol don Teachta, seans, táthar ag súil go dtiocfaidh ardú beagnach seachtó míle (70,000) ar an rollú iomlán i mbunscoileanna agus in iarbhunscoileanna idir anois agus an bhliain dhá mhíle is a hocht déag (2018) (breis agus ceathracha cúig míle (45,000) ag an leibhéal bunscoile agus fiche cúig míle (25,000) ag an leibhéal iarbhunscoile) agus leanfar leis an ardú ag an leibhéal iarbhunscoile go dtí an bhliain dhá mhíle is a fiche ceathair (2024) ar a laghad.

Maidir leis sin, d'fhógair mé mionsonraí faoi dhá chéad is a naoi déag (219) mórthionscadal tógála scoile nua, a gcuirfear tús leo sna cúig bliana amach romhainn, mar chuid de chlár infheistíochta caipitil €2 billiún. Beidh na tionscadail nua sin sa bhreis ar chaoga sé (56) mórthionscadal tógála scoile atá fógraithe agam cheana agus a bhfuil tús le cur leo sa bhliain dhá mhíle is a dó dhéag (2012).

Is é an tosaíocht atá ann anois díriú ar mhórthionscadail thógála scoile agus ar thionscadail níos lú a aistreofar chuig scoileanna chun freastal ar na héilimh déimeagrafacha. Is é an phríomhaidhm ná cinntiú go mbeidh teacht ar áit scoile ag gach aon leanbh.

I gcomhthéacs na srianta airgeadais a eascraíonn as an ngá le tús áite a thabhairt do chóiríocht scoile riachtanach a sholáthar, ní féidir liom an scoil a dtagraíonn an Teachta di a chur san áireamh ag an tráth seo.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current stage of progress in the provision of a new school (details supplied); the reason it was not on the five year list of schools to be built; if it is intended to progress this project in the meantime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15536/12]

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 earlier this week 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 awaiting the appointment of a design team, following which it will commence architectural planning.

The school building projects currently in or commencing 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.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he intends giving approved to the provision of a replacement building for a school (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason this school was not included on the five year plan for schools recently announced by him; if it is intended to go ahead with the architectural planning of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15537/12]

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 advanced stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are currently working on completing Stage 2(b) of Architectural Planning.

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 to progress this project to tender and construction stage at this time.