Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the stage of the proposed provision of a new school (details supplied) in County Waterford; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the likely timescale for this project to proceed to construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15913/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school to which he refers is among the schools which I announced last week that are planned to proceed to construction as part of my Department's five year capital investment programme.

This school forms part of a bundle of schools that are targeted for delivery through the Public Private Partnership process. Negotiations are underway with a preferred bidder in respect of this bundle. When these negotiations are complete, I expect being able to confirm the timescale for the advancement of this project.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) was not on the school building projects list which was announced recently by him despite the fact that the school will soon complete State 2b of his Department's planning and building process; if this school will be included on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15919/12]

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.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) was not on the school building projects list which was announced recently by him despite the fact that the school was informed in 2007 that they would be getting a new school and passed to architectural planning stage in 2011; if this school will be included on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15920/12]

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 last week is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that context, it was not possible to advance all applications for capital funding concurrently. The process for appointing a design team for the major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will begin shortly. Officials from my Department will contact the Board of Management directly when this process is about to commence. 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 at this time.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) was not on the school building projects list which was announced recently by him despite the fact that the school has full planning permission and has progressed through the architectural planning stage in 2011; if this school will be included on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15921/12]

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 at an advanced stage of architectural planning and the Stage 2(b) submission (Detailed Design) was approved by the Departments Planning and Building Unit on 10th January 2012. 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 at this time.