Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when it is likely that the plan to replace permanently existing and proposed temporary buildings at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare with particular reference to the identification of a strategic plan incorporating adjacent and available extra site facilities, the adoption of a specific timescale for the provision of the facilities promised by his predecessor; if the relevant section of his Department has had an opportunity to carry out a full evaluation of the requirements for the urgent replacement of the facilities outlined; if he expects to be in a position notwithstanding the current economic situation to advance the project to its development stage at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32188/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department has received an application from the school referred to by the Deputy for capital works to provide an extension. Due to the limitations of the school's site, additional land will be required to facilitate an extension. In this regard, my Department is currently in the process of acquiring additional land which is adjacent to two existing schools, one of which is the school referred to by the Deputy. However, due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.

The Deputy will appreciate, that in view of the financial constraints imposed by the need, as outlined in the Five Year Plan, to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential school accommodation to meet demographic demand, it is not possible to indicate at this point when a project for the school in question will be progressed.

In the meantime, the school was invited to partake in the Prefab Replacement Initiative. However, for various reasons, the school has indicated that it is unlikely to be in a position to participate in this initiative.