Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and to outline the position regarding Gaelscoil Bharra. 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 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 focused determination to improve the condition of our school buildings and to ensure the appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum.

In 2006, more than €500 million was invested in schools infrastructure and this funded the delivery of in excess of 1,300 building projects. This compares with just more than €90 million provided for school buildings in 1997. Under the national development plan, €4.5 billion is being invested to improve existing school buildings and provide additional accommodation for an expected growth of 100,000 in the schoolgoing population in the coming years. Together with the improvements in planning that have been put in place, and those that are provided for in the new programme for Government, this will enable the Department of Education and Science to meet the needs of developing areas into the future. I am sure the Deputy will agree this record level of investment is a positive testament to the high priority the Government attaches to this sector.

Turning to the specific matter in hand, Gaelscoil Bharra NS is a coeducational all-Irish national school. The school had a September 2006 enrolment of 218 pupils and the enrolments in the school have been on an upward trend of 12% in the past five years. The school has a current staffing of principal plus eight mainstream teachers and one permanent learning support teacher. I can confirm that the Department has an application from Gaelscoil Bharra for a new school building. Officials in the school planning section are considering a number of options for the long-term solution to the school's accommodation difficulties. One of these options is the building of a permanent structure on the school's current site. A number of issues have arisen with this proposal. However, it will be pursued in tandem with a number of other options being considered by the Department. The Department acknowledges the need for a solution to the school's accommodation difficulties and is committed to working to achieve a satisfactory solution as soon as possible.

Once again I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the position on this school project and to highlight the enormous work being undertaken by the Department in implementing the school building and modernisation programme to ensure infrastructure of the highest standard is available for all our schoolgoing population.

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