Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when an extension for a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow will take place; if the urgent nature of this extension can be taken into consideration; the current status of the school's application for an extension within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16616/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy is aware, on 12th March last, I announced details of the new major school building projects where construction is expected to commence over the next five years as part of a €1.5 billion major school project capital investment programme. The school referred to by the Deputy was included in that announcement to commence construction of their extension in 2015/2016.

The timeline for when work is expected to proceed is outlined in the announcement. Each project is listed in the year when the commencement of construction works is anticipated. The Department will be in communication with all those schools, including the school referred to by the Deputy, on the programme in relation to the next steps to be taken, at the appropriate time, as the projects progress through the various stages of the architectural planning process.

Details of all projects in respect of the current school building programme, including this project, are available on the Department's website at www.education.ie.

In the meantime, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has recently approved a temporary mainstream classroom to meet the school's immediate accommodation needs from September, 2012.

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) in County Meath can expect an announcement about their school building project; when it will go from design stage to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16618/12]

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 on March 12th is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that context, it was not possible to advance all applications for capital funding concurrently.

School building projects currently in, or entering into, 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 up to the preparation of tender documents.

The process of appointing a design team to the school building project referred to by the Deputy is currently nearing completion, i.e. contracts are being signed by the Client and the design team consultants. Once these contracts are in place, work will commence on Stage 1 of the architectural planning process.