Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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143. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the consideration being given by his Department to having the proposed amalgamated primary school for Ballyroan, County Laois, progressed to the next stage; and if his Department sees this as a priority. [29157/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that there is a major building project for the amalgamation, referred to by the Deputy, at an early stage of architectural planning. The design team is currently working on the preparation of the Stage 2(a) submission.

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 increasing demographic requirements, it was not possible to include this project in the five year construction programme.

Schools which have not been included in the five year construction programme but which were previously initiated 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. The project referred to by the Deputy will remain available to be considered for progression in that context when it has reached the completion of the design stages.