Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity of outlining to the House the Department of Education and Science's position regarding the provision of school accommodation at Clonmellon, Louighahar and Gainstown national schools in County Westmeath. The proposed projects involve the construction of new schools at Clonmellon and Louighahar and the provision of an extension at Gainstown. Planning permission and a fire certificate have been obtained and the tender reports for all three projects are being examined by the Department's building unit.

Under the national development plan, €4.5 billion has been 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 largescale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase is considered on an ongoing basis in the context of the Department's multiannual school building and modernisation programme in which the main focus is to deliver school places within rapidly developing areas. The progression of the schools referred to by the Deputy, as is the case with all largescale projects, will be considered in this context.

I assure the Deputy that the Minister for Education and Science is committed to providing suitable high quality accommodation for Clonmellon, Louighahar and Gainstown national schools at the earliest possible date.

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