Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I am taking this topical issues debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue relating to Clifden community school, County Galway. I welcome the opportunity it affords me to outline to the Dáil the Government's strategy for capital investment in major primary and post-primary education projects in the coming five years. It also allows me to clarify the current position of the new school building project for Clifden community school.

The Deputy may find it helpful if I first set out the context within which decisions relating to meeting the accommodation needs of schools must be considered during the coming years. Total enrolment is expected to increase by approximately 70,000 students between now and 2018. This will involve an increase of more than 45,000 pupils at primary level and 25,000 students at post-primary level. Thereafter, enrolment at post-primary level is expected to continue to rise until at least 2024.

On 12 March this year the Minister, Deputy Quinn, announced details of 219 new, major school building projects which will proceed to construction during the next five years as part of a €2 billion capital investment programme. These new projects are in addition to the 56 major school building projects already announced for 2012. The projects announced will account for the bulk of the capital funding available each year from 2012 to 2016. Many of these schools will serve a significant rural hinterland.

See this speech in context