Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a building project for a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the timeframe for completion of works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39581/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are currently working on Stage 2a (Developed Sketch Design). Due to competing demands on the Departments capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements it was not possible to include the project referred to by the Deputy in the 5 year construction programme announced in March. School building projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, which have not been included in the five year construction programme, but which were announced for initial inclusion in the building programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to the Department in future years.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a building project for a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the timeframe for completion of works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39582/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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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 the Stage 2(b) submission which includes planning permission, Fire Cert, Disability Access Cert (DAC) and the preparation of tender documents. To ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of projects to meet the increasing demographic demands will be the main focus for capital investment over the next 5 years, particularly in those areas where it has been identified that most future demographic growth will be concentrated.

Due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet those increasing demographic requirements, it was not possible to include the project referred to by the Deputy in the 5 year construction programme. Schools, including the one referred to by the Deputy, which have not been included in the five year construction programme, but which were announced for initial inclusion in the building programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to my Department in future years.