Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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60. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence regarding a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [19800/14]

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 advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b - Detailed Design which includes applications for planning permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification and the preparation of tender documents. Once the Stage 2b Submission for the project has been received and assessed, my Department will be in touch with the school authority regarding the potential progression of the project to tender and construction at that time.

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 the project referred to by the Deputy in the five year construction programme.

However, school building projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, which have been initiated but not included in the current 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 the future.

As an interim measure, in order to meet the immediate accommodation needs at the school, my Department has approved a 100 sq m ASD temporary unit for September 2014.