Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in County Louth has been removed from the new school building programme; the date on which this decision to remove the schools was made; the person responsible for this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15953/12]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has carried out an assessment of the moneys already spent by a school (details supplied) in County Louth on design, engineering, planning, architecture and so on, which has been removed from the school building list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15955/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 102 together. 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 were appointed in January and are currently working on stage 1 of the project.

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.