Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for the opportunity of outlining to this House my Department's position regarding the provision of a new school premises for Gaelscoil Thaobh na Coille, Cill Tiarnáin. The proposed project involves the construction of a new two-storey, 16-classroom generic repeat design school. Planning permission and a fire certificate has been obtained and the tender report for the project is being examined by the Department's building unit.

Under the national development plan, €4.5 billion was assigned to the capital requirements of the primary and post-primary sectors. More than €540 million will be spent this year on school buildings. The level of construction alone in the primary and post-primary sectors in 2007 is such that it will deliver more than 700 classrooms to provide permanent accommodation for approximately 17,500 pupils. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase is considered on an ongoing basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme in which the main focus is to deliver school places within rapidly developing areas. The progression of the school referred to by the Deputy, as is the case with all large scale projects, will be considered in this context. I assure the Deputy I am committed to providing suitable high quality accommodation for Gaelscoil Thaobh na Coille at the earliest date.

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