Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the Department's position regarding the provision of a new primary school building for Passage West. It is proposed to build a new 16-classroom generic repeat design school, including a general purpose hall and ancillary accommodation, on a greenfield site. The process of appointing a design team to the school building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage. I note the Deputy's desire to have the team appointed as quickly as possible.

Under the national development plan, €4.5 billion is assigned to the capital requirements of the primary and post-primary schools. Approximately €600 million will be spent this year on school buildings. 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 the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme in which the main focus is to deliver school places within rapidly developing areas.

I note the Deputy's comments about Passage West being a rapidly developing area and his reference to the number of residential units to be built there. The progression of a new primary school at Passage West, as with all large-scale projects, will be considered in this context. I assure Deputy McGrath that the Minister and the Department are committed to providing suitable high quality accommodation for the school in Passage West at the earliest possible date. I assure him I will bring his strong views to the attention of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin. I note Deputy McGrath's comments about the additional residential units, which will have a direct relationship with the enrolment projections.

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