Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I am replying to this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I acknowledge the intra-party support for this project, which is very worthy. I thank the two Deputies for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the strategy for capital investment in education projects and the current position on Ennis CBS in particular.

The allocation of funding for school buildings in 2009 is €653 million. This represents a significant investment in the schools building and modernisation programme. This level of funding, at a time of great pressure on public finances, is a sign of the Government's commitment to investing in school infrastructure and will permit the continuation of progress in the overall improvement of school accommodation. Under the recovery plan announced recently by the Taoiseach, an additional €75 million was allocated to the schools building programme for 2009.

Ennis CBS, County Clare has applied to the Department of Education and Science for large scale capital funding for an extension project. In common with all such applications, an assessment of the application was carried out in the Department's planning and building unit. The assessment process determines the extent and type of need presenting based on the demographics of an area, proposed housing developments, condition of existing buildings and site capacity, etc., leading ultimately to an appropriate accommodation solution. As part of this process, a project is assigned a band rating under published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects. These criteria were devised following consultation with the education partners.

Projects are selected for inclusion in the school building and modernisation programme on the basis of priority of need. This is reflected in the band rating assigned to a project. A proposed building project moves through the system commensurate with the band rating assigned to it and as they are ready to proceed. There are four band ratings in all, of which band 1 is the highest and band 4 the lowest. Band 1 projects, for example, include the provision of buildings where none currently exist but there is a high demand for school places, while a band 4 project makes provision for desirable but not necessarily urgent or essential facilities. Each band rating has a number of sub-categories which more specifically describes the type of works needed and the urgency attaching to them.

Ennis CBS is a fully vertical co-educational primary school with an enrolment of 528 pupils. The staffing level is a principal, 21 mainstream assistants, three learning support-resource teachers, one special class teacher, one resource teacher for Travellers, four temporary language support teachers and one permanent resource teacher. Consistent with the approach which I have already outlined, following an assessment of the school's application for capital funding, the proposed building project has been assigned a band 2.1 rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. The long-term staffing figure, on which accommodation needs will be based, has been determined. It has been agreed that accommodation should be provided to cater for a long-term projected staffing of a principal, 24 mainstream assistants and appropriate ancillary accommodation. The next step for the project is the appointment of a design team.

The Deputies will understand that it is not possible to progress all projects at the same time. However, the Minister for Education and Science would like to give the assurance that he is committed to providing suitable high quality accommodation for Ennis CBS at the earliest possible date. With competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the further progression of this project.

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