Jack Wall
Ceist:179 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the provision of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19245/01]
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
In 1999 the planning section of my Department examined an application from the school authorities for a new building. Following this examination, an accommodation requirement based on a long-term enrolment of 350 pupils was projected.
A review of the long-term enrolment projection was sought by the VEC earlier this year and this is currently under way. The review will be completed as speedily as possible and the school authorities will be notified.
John McGuinness
Ceist:180 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will approve a submission made to his Department for funding under the Kilkenny Schools Connected 2001 Initiative; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in order for the project to commence, decisions have to be taken now to accommodate advance planning and all those involved in its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19247/01]
My Department, through the National Centre for Technology in Education, NCTE, has funded a number of schools integration projects, SIPs, designed to examine different aspects of the integration of ICT into education and to identify and promulgate best practice throughout the education sector as a whole. The evaluation phase of SIP is currently under way as the projects, including a project in Kilkenny, are being completed.
I understand that the NCTE has recently held discussions with representatives of Kilkenny Schools Connected 2001 which have resulted in revisions to their recent proposal. This proposal will now be considered in the context of new criteria for innovative ICT projects which are currently being developed by my Department and the NCTE. A decision will be made as soon as possible.