Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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195. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which a school (details supplied) was removed from the major school building projects list to proceed to construction in 2016; the other schools that were removed from this list to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19425/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The school building project referred to by the Deputy is included on the six year programme announced on 17th November 2015 and is listed to proceed to construction in 2016. Neither the project for the school to which he refers nor any other project has been removed from that list.

However, on 1st January 2016 there were 66 major projects under construction. Since the start of this year 14 more major projects have been progressed to construction and there are currently 36 projects authorised to progress through the tender process with a view to starting on site in the coming months. That represents a total of 116 major projects either under construction or progressing to commence construction in 2016. The project for the school referred to was not at a sufficiently advanced stage to be considered for inclusion with those projects when they were authorised to proceed to tender earlier this year. The existing contractual commitments for 2016 now fully account for the funding allocation available in 2016.

My officials will continue to closely monitor expenditure on existing contractual commitments over the coming months and, as funding allows, other projects, including the project for the school in question will be considered for progression through the tender process with a view to starting on site as soon as possible.