Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn.

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 school building projects and also to outline the current position concerning the long term accommodation requirements at Glasnevin Educate Together national school. The Minister would also like to take the opportunity to note the regular representations he has received from the Deputy, and also from the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, in relation to this school.

As the Deputy will be aware, all applications for capital funding are assessed in the planning and building unit of the Department. The assessment process determines the extent and type of need presenting based on the demographics of an area, proposed housing developments, condition of buildings, site capacity and so forth, leading to an appropriate accommodation solution.

Projects are selected for inclusion in the schools' building and modernisation programme on the basis of priority of need which is reflected in the band rating assigned to a project. As part of this process, a project is assigned a band rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects. These criteria were devised following consultation with the education partners.

Glasnevin Educate Together school is currently located in temporary accommodation in the Glasnevin area. The school is operating with provisional recognition from the Department and this was awarded on the basis that it would be providing multidenominational education in the Clontarf-Marino-Fairview area of Dublin. In light of demographic changes in the Glasnevin area, it would now appear that a need exists in the area in which the school is now operating. On this basis, the Department is currently considering the school's request for permanent recognition and expects to be in a position to convey a decision to the school authority shortly. This position was communicated to the school patron at a recent meeting with the Department.

On the question of a permanent accommodation solution for the school, the school authority has made a number of suggestions to the Department regarding the acquisition of a permanent site for the school. Department officials have conducted technical inspections of two such properties. Arising from these inspections, a preferred option was identified. Subsequently, a proposal was made to the landowner regarding a possible acquisition of the property in question. This proposal is under consideration by the landowner in question and a response is awaited by the Department. When this response is received, it will be considered in detail and the acquisition of a suitable site and the delivery of new school buildings will be considered in the context of existing commitments and other competing demands on the Department's capital budget.

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