Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also the current position on future plans for Gaelscoil Bharra, Cabra. The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, wishes to clarify that modernising facilities in our existing building stock, as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth, represent a significant challenge. He intends this challenge to be one of his priorities.

The Government has dramatically increased investment in the schools building programme to almost €600 million this year. During the lifetime of the national development plan almost €4.5 billion will be invested in schools. This 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. It will also enable the purchase of sites to facilitate the smooth delivery of the schools building programme, again with the focus on site requirements in rapidly developing areas.

Turning to the specific matter in hand, the Office of Public Works, OPW, which acts on behalf of the Department in site acquisitions generally was requested to source a greenfield site for this gaelscoil. However, on foot of advertising, no proposals were received for a greenfield site in the Cabra area. Further to this, the OPW was requested by the Department to look into building a permanent school on the existing temporary site. In order to pursue this further, meetings have taken place between the Department and Dublin City Council regarding the potential availability of this site. The Department has written to the council with a proposal suggesting a lease arrangement be put in place. A response is awaited. When the Department has received that response, it will be in a position to consider the next steps. It will continue to liaise with stakeholders.

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

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