Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I am giving the reply to the matter raised by Deputy Boyle on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin. I welcome the fact that the matter has been raised as it affords the Minister the opportunity to outline to the House the strategy of the Department of Education and Science for capital investment in education projects and to outline the position on the development of both primary and secondary education provision in Cork South-Central.

Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and 750 post-primary schools is not an easy task, given the legacy of decades of under-investment as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth. Nonetheless, since taking office, this Government has shown a sincere determination to improve the condition of our school buildings and to ensure that the appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum. As evidence of this commitment there will be 1,300 building and modernisation projects active in our primary and post-primary schools during 2006. Over €490 million has been spent on primary and post-primary projects throughout the country.

Ballygarvan national school is a co-educational primary school. Enrolments have been increasing in recent years from 140 pupils in September 2000 to 183 pupils in the current year. The Department has received an application from the school authority for a new school building. Having examined the application and ruled out the possibility of extending the existing school to provide the accommodation required, the need for a new school building was acknowledged. The property management section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of the Department in site acquisitions generally, was requested to identify and acquire a suitable site for the new school building for Ballygarvan national school. A site has been identified comprising three adjoining parcels of land belonging to three different owners. Negotiations have concluded with the vendors of one of these parcels of land and draft contracts are currently with the Chief State Solicitor's Office. A price has been agreed for a second parcel of land and contract documents are now awaited. The matter of the acquisition of the third parcel of land is ongoing. When site acquisition is finalised, the delivery of the new school building will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme.

Star of the Sea, Passage West, is a co-educational primary school with a current enrolment of 277 pupils. On foot of its application, a decision was taken to provide a new school building on a new site. A site has been acquired to facilitate the construction of a new school building. The long-term projected staffing, on which the precise accommodation needs of the school will be based, is almost finalised. When this is completed, the project will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme.

Gaelscoil Carrig Ui Leighin is a co-educational primary school. Enrolments have been increasing in recent years from 239 pupils in September 2000 to 386 pupils in the current year. The Department has received an application from the school authority for an extension consisting of six classrooms. The long-term projected staffing on which the accommodation needs will be based has been determined. The proposed project will be considered in the context of the school building programme.

The need for a new primary school in the Rochestown area of Cork is acknowledged. A site has been reserved by the local authority. Acquisition of the site and the building project required to deliver a new school building is being considered in the context of the school building and modernization programme 2006-10.

Ashton School is a co-educational second level school with a current enrolment of 523 pupils. It was included in the 2005 building programme for the provision of a new school. The appointment of a design team is under way.

Coláiste Chríost Rí is an all boys school with a current enrolment of 684 pupils. The Department has an application for a PE hall at the school. This project is being considered in the context of the school building programme.

I thank Deputy Boyle for giving the Minister the opportunity to outline to the House the method used by her Department in determining in an open and transparent way how projects are included for funding in the school building programme and I assure Deputy Boyle and the House that the schools referred to and all others will be treated in a fair and equitable manner.

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