§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reason the Department for Education has yet to reach a decision on whether or not to approve the commencement of building the new Kilmaine Primary School in Bangor, County Down. [179897]
§ Mr. GardinerA new school for Kilmaine Primary was included in my Department's Capital Programme announced by my predecessor in February 2003. Planning for the school was progressed by the South Eastern Education and Library Board. The board and my Department have been working closely on the project and I can confirm that an agreed overall maximum cost should be finalized shortly and this will enable a contractor to be appointed. Once the contractor is in place, this will allow the design to be finalised and it is hoped to commence work on site, subject to Planning Approval, by around the end of summer 2004.