Vol. 547 No. 2
171 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the estimates for schools building projects in 2002 at primary and secondary level; and the anticipated value of new projects which will be approved during 2002 on the basis of this budget. [3045/02]
The allocation for primary and post primary buildings in 2002 is €335.95 million, which is a record level of funding and demonstrates this Government's commitment to improving the accommodation situation in primary schools. This is almost four times the previous Government's investment in 1997.
Because of the greatly increased level of investment in the primary and post-primary buildings area since this Government came into office, there has been a substantial increase in the number of major and minor building projects in construction and this has given rise to a record level of building and refurbishment activity. It is anticipated that the full allocation will be expended during 2002 on a mixture of demands for payment arising during the year as a result of contractual arrangements entered into in connection with school building projects initiated in previous years and on demands for payment in respect of contracts for new projects initiated during the year.
