Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

On 9 December 2009, the school authorities were informed that the Department had decided to purchase the 13 temporary accommodation units at the school and that this initiative was undertaken to achieve better value for money.

The school authority was advised that this change in the funding arrangement for its temporary accommodation would not affect any application the school may have for permanent accommodation under the schools building and modernisation programme. The brief for the current project is to provide accommodation on the current school site for long-term projected staffing of a principal, 32 mainstream teachers plus ancillary staff. Representatives from the board of management have been invited to meet Department officials to discuss the current school building project and their current proposals in this regard. That meeting will take place next week.

The progression of all large-scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction is dependent on the prioritisation of competing demands on the funding available under the Department's capital budget. The proposed building project will be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme for 2010 and subsequent years. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the delivery of the project at this time.

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the current position on the school building project for St. Oliver Plunkett national school, Malahide, County Dublin.

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