Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a project (details supplied) in County Leitrim will proceed to the next stage in view of the fact that there is an urgent need to upgrade existing accommodation and provide additional new permanent accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40697/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy contacted my Department regarding a proposed extension. Following communications between my officials and the school, an application for major capital works was furnished to my Department in October 2011. This application is being assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects. The outcome of this assessment will be conveyed to the school authority in due course and a band rating will be assigned to the proposed project, details of which will be published on the Department's website at www.education.ie.

The progression of all large-scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme. In light of current competing demands on the capital budget of my Department and the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

The Government's Medium Term Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework, which was published on 10th November 2011, sets out the demographic challenge facing the education system with substantial increases in enrolments at both primary and post primary level projected in the coming years. Therefore, the delivery of new schools, together with extension projects to meet the increase in demand, will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. Given the constraints on capital funding, the Government has to prioritise school building projects and the very real need to ensure that every child has access to a school place.

I have previously committed to publishing details this month of the school building projects to be constructed in 2012 and in the new year, I will publish a five year plan outlining the projects to be constructed in that time.