140 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received an application from Bunscoil na mBrathré, Ennis, for infrastructural developments in Ennis, County Clare; and if approval will be given for the new school plan. [4026/02]

The allocation for primary buildings in 2002 is €153.6 million, which is a record level of funding and demonstrates the 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 activity in the primary buildings area since the 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.

A proposed building project for Bunscoil na mBrathré, Ennis will proceed to architectural planning and to the preparation of tender documents, as soon as possible, under the expanded building programme.