Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a timescale for when stage 2(b) of the architectural planning process for a school (details supplied) will be completed, in view of the fact that his Department has confirmed that architectural planning is at an advanced stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17641/12]

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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Question 275: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a timescale for when Stage 2(b) of the architectural planning process for a school (details supplied) in County Galway will be completed, in view of the fact that his Department has confirmed that architectural planning is at an advanced stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17744/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 275 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 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 275: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a timescale for when Stage 2(b) of the architectural planning process for a school (details supplied) in County Galway will be completed, in view of the fact that his Department has confirmed that architectural planning is at an advanced stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17744/12]

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the new secondary school (details supplied); if a site has been identified as suitable from the list of sites submitted to his Department in March of 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17642/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department has sought the assistance of, and is working closely with, the relevant Local Authority in relation to identifying and acquiring a suitable site for the proposed school referred to by the Deputy.

In this regard, a number of site assessments, including assessments of the sites referred to by the Deputy, have been carried out with a view to identifying a site suitable for acquisition and the subsequent development of a school building. Due to commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to comment further at this time.

The Deputy will be aware that the development of a building for the school in question is included in the recently announced Five Year Plan. Full details relating to this Plan are published on my Department's website, www.education.ie.