Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)

At the outset, I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and to outline the position of the Department of Education and Science regarding the proposed developments at post-primary level in Croom, County Limerick.

Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and 750 post-primary schools is not an easy task given the legacy of decades of underinvestment in this area, as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth. Nonetheless, since taking office, the Government has shown a focused determination to improve the condition of our school buildings and ensure that appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum.

As evidence of this commitment, there will be in the region of 1,300 building and modernisation projects active in our primary and post-primary schools during 2006. Over €500 million is being spent on the primary and post-primary projects throughout the country. This unprecedented level of capital investment is testament to the importance the Government places on improving the quality of accommodation in our schools.

Coláiste Chiarán is the only post-primary school in Croom and is a co-educational provider with a current enrolment of 435 mainstream pupils and 146 students attending post-leaving certificate courses. The school's accommodation comprises some permanent accommodation and an extensive number of prefabricated buildings provided for the school over the years to address its growing enrolment.

County Limerick VEC has applied to the Department of Education and Science for funding towards the provision of a new school building for Coláiste Chiarán. Given the restricted nature of the existing site, the Department has given approval to County Limerick VEC to purchase a site to facilitate the development of a new replacement school. The next step in the process is the determination of the long-term projected enrolment on which the school's future accommodation needs will be based. Officials in my Department are currently engaged with the VEC on this issue and factors being examined include the population growth, demographic trends, current and projected enrolments and the likely impact of recent and planned housing developments in the area.

When the long-term projected enrolment has been finalised, schedules of accommodation will be drawn up. The project will then be ready to enter the architectural planning process. The building project will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme for 2006-10.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which allows me to outline the progress being made under the school building and modernisation programme and in particular the position of Coláiste Chiarán in Croom.

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