Mr. Hubert Loftus:

That is something we can look at as part of how we improve communication generally. There are 4,000 schools that can knock on our door. We are talking here about large-scale projects, but there can be devolved projects and other issues as well. We have to consider what is workable and manageable. We view the website as an important avenue for keeping schools updated on the current status of their projects.

The issue of the site for the Monasterevin school was mentioned. The Deputy asked about the procurement of a site, why it took so long and how that issue could have been managed better. In general we procure about one third of our sites from other State bodies, mostly the local authorities. Wherever we need sites for schools, we generally look at that avenue as a first port of call. There are standard methods for proceeding in that way. We engage closely with local authorities, such as the Fingal area, which help us to acquire sites. We have learned that it is important to identify, acquire and procure the site. That is the key first step in terms of the delivery of new school projects and is something we are working on.

Deputy O'Sullivan asked about the level of information we can give about the site acquisition process. There are particular sensitivities when dealing with developers. Negotiations are going on and we have to be careful that we do not compromise the negotiation process by putting too much information into the public domain.

The Deputy also asked about the devolved delivery of projects. Within the 218 new schools delivered, a cohort of schools were delivered on a devolved basis, as I set out earlier. In addition, the permanent accommodation scheme, which has delivered in excess of 1,900 projects and 60,000 school places over the past eight years is one of the key methods we have used to deliver projects on a devolved basis. The devolved basis method enabled the schools to go ahead and deliver the projects. Clear parameters and arrangements for achieving that were set out. Where the projects to be delivered on a devolved basis are significant projects worth €1 million or more, we deliver them through the support of other agencies, such as an education and training board. In terms of a wider learning experience, I believe education and training boards are a useful mechanism to help support schools generally, both ETB schools and non-ETB schools, in terms of managing the delivery of projects. The Education and Training Boards Act has enabling legislation to facilitate that.

Deputy Funchion mentioned health and safety issues in temporary accommodation and audits that have been carried out. From the Department's perspective, health and safety legislation makes it clear that that is an issue that is managed at local school level. The Department worked with the Health and Safety Authority and the education centres in developing procedures and manuals on managing health and safety in schools, and those are available to assist schools.

Deputy Lahart mentioned the Gaelscoil in Knocklyon, and the difficulty with communication, including tweeting. There were also issues about having to resort to freedom of information, FOI, requests, parliamentary questions and Topical Issue debates to get information. I am not sure that I can answer every aspect of his question. I am looking at it now in terms of where we stand and the pathway forward. Part of the learning experience for us is how we can improve communication for schools generally, including the Gaelscoil in Knocklyon. In terms of that project, locating a site has been a particular issue. The school was in prefabs for 22 years, which reflects the fact that there has been a legacy of underinvestment in public infrastructure generally for decades. However, the site issue is moving forward, which will provide a pathway for delivering that project which is part of our school building programme. As a new school project, one of the first areas we would look at in terms of delivering the project would be as part of our rapid design and build programme.