John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I wish I could impart some good information on my first Adjournment Debate in response to Deputy Costello.

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also to outline the current position regarding the future plans for Gaelscoil Bharra, Cabra.

Modernising facilities in our existing building projects as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth, is a significant challenge and something I understand will be one of the priorities of the Minister, Deputy O'Keeffe.

The Government has already dramatically increased investment in the schools building programme to almost €600 million this year. Under the lifetime of the national development plan, almost €4.5 billion will be invested in schools. That is an unprecedented level of capital investment which reflects the commitment of the Government to continue its programme of sustained investment in primary and post-primary schools.

It will underpin a particular emphasis on the delivery of additional school places in rapidly developing areas while continuing to develop the Government's commitment to delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary accommodation throughout the country. It will also enable the purchase of sites to facilitate the smooth delivery of the schools building programme, again with the focus being on site requirements in rapidly developing areas.

On the specific matter raised by Deputy Costello, the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of the Department of Education and Science in regard to site acquisitions generally, had been requested to source a greenfield site for this Gaelscoil. On foot of advertising, no proposals were received for a greenfield site in the Cabra area. Further to that, the OPW was requested by the Department to look into building a permanent school on the existing temporary site.

The further progression of the acquisition of this site will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to the Department for school buildings generally. The Department is not in a position to say at this stage when the acquisition will be concluded.

I thank the Deputy and wish I could have been a font of knowledge but, unfortunately, I cannot be one. I am glad to have the opportunity to outline the current position to the House.

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