Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the position of a school (details supplied) currently on his Department's school building programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40376/12]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that his Department is the owner of a property bounded by properties (details supplied); if he will outline his Department's plans for this site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40377/12]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the current planning permission for a school (details supplied) has now expired; the plans he has to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40378/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 to 149, inclusive, together.

The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. My Department is actively engaged with the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) in relation to the transfer of ownership of the property referred to by the Deputy. When the transfer of the site is complete, the building project for the school will be progressed to final stages of architectural planning which includes the completion of tender Documents.

Planning Permission was granted in June 2008 and remains valid. However, if it proves necessary, the design team may seek an extension to the planning permission. 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 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.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a definite timescale for commencement and completion of a new secondary school of Ballinamore, County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40508/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The school referred to by the Deputy is among eight schools constituting the third bundle of school projects that are earmarked for delivery as part of the Department's overall Schools Public Private Partnership programme of works.

Unfortunately, unanticipated difficulties associated with the current fiscal situation have led to delays in achieving financial close. As a consequence, it has not been possible to conclude the contract with the preferred tenderer as had been originally planned. However, the expectation is that these difficulties will now be overcome later this year with the likelihood that the contract will be in place and the builder on site before the end of the calendar year. I look forward to this situation coming to pass.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (details supplied) and its application for an extension; if the status has changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40509/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning.

My Department recently authorised the project to proceed to Stage 2(b) 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.