Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Coughlan. I thank the Deputy 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, in particular, Ballygarvan national school.

The allocation of funding for school buildings in 2010 is just under €579 million, including the carryover of €72 million deferred funding from 2009. 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 the Department's programme of sustained investment in primary and post primary schools.

With regard to Ballygarvan national school, the need to provide for additional school places has already been determined. Consequently, the proposed project for the construction of a new 16-classroom school was one of 25 projects announced to commence architectural planning in February 2009. Following this announcement, detailed designs were prepared, planning permission lodged and a tender competition held. Unfortunately, delays in securing planning permission and the acquisition by the patron of the two parcels of land required for the proposed new school building have impacted on the scheduled delivery of the project.

However, I am pleased that planning permission for the proposed new school was granted in May and the acquisition of the site completed by the patron in recent weeks. The completion of the land transfers in recent weeks by the patron has enabled the Department to enter into discussions with the preferred bidder. The Deputy will appreciate these discussions are at a sensitive stage. Accordingly, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on them. When these discussions have concluded, the implications for the project will then be examined. In the meantime, the Department will continue to liaise with the patron and the school authorities regarding the proposed project.

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