Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I thank the Minister for taking this Adjournment matter and the Ceann Comhairle for permitting it. I seek clarification in regard to a parliamentary question I asked the Minister for Education and Science yesterday seeking information on Athy community college. Two years ago, I attended a function at which the Taoiseach turned the sod at the school, yet no progress has been made since then. Further concerns have been raised by the Minister's reply yesterday. She stated:

However, due to a decline in enrolment trends and the level of investment which would be required to facilitate a relatively small number of pupils, it was decided not to allow the proposed building project to progress through architectural planning until a complete review of the long-term viability of the school has been carried out.

This would seem to contradict everyone's view of the project, including that of the Taoiseach, who turned the sod two years ago.

The development plan for Athy has led to major population growth in the town. In 1970, the population stood at 4,270 whereas the latest development plan envisages a population of 16,000, not including the catchment areas of Ballylinan, Kilberry, Kilkee, Kilmead and other small villages which have experienced population increase. In fact, all the south Kildare area that is attached to Athy for educational purposes has experienced a major increase in population. Nonetheless, a major dent has been put in one of the flagship educational projects in the area, namely, the completion of a new college at Athy.

Has the development been put on the back burner? How long will the review of the viability of the school take? Have there been second thoughts regarding the project? What aspect of the development will progress? Will the present school be developed or will a new school be developed on the site opened by the Taoiseach? What is the position in regard to this much needed educational facility in the context of the recent expansion of population in south Kildare, which highlights the need for it? At least 1,000 houses are at construction stage in the area and a greater number are at the planning stage with the local town council. It beggars belief that this infrastructure project, which is vital given the young population of the town and its hinterland, seems to be going backwards.

The Minister of State should clarify the situation. He should alleviate the concerns of the teachers of the school and local primary school pupils, who would benefit from the school. Education in south Kildare would benefit if he could give a clear picture regarding the provision of this college.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Wall for raising this matter as it provides an opportunity for me, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, to outline to the House the action planned to progress the application for capital funding from Athy community college.

Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and 750 post-primary schools is not an easy task given the legacy of decades of under-investment in this area as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth. Since taking office, the Government has shown a sincere determination to improve the condition of our school buildings and to ensure that the appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum.

We have progressively increased funding for the schools modernisation programme in recent years to achieve our goal, with an aggregate total of almost €2 billion allocated for this purpose since 1998, the largest investment programme in the history of the State. Since the beginning of the year the Minister for Education and Science has made a number of announcements relating to the schools building and modernisation programme. This year alone, €270 million will be allocated to primary schools and €223 million to post-primary schools for building works. This represents an increase of 14% on the 2004 allocation.

The programmes supported will include the following: 141 major building projects already on site and a further 28 due to commence in the coming weeks; 122 major school building projects countrywide which will prepare tenders and move to construction during 2005; 192 primary schools which have been invited to take part in the small and rural schools initiative and the devolved scheme for providing additional accommodation; up to 120 schools which have been given approval to rent temporary premises pending delivery of a permanent solution to their long-term accommodation needs; 43 schools which have been authorised to start architectural planning of their major projects and 124 which have been approved to progress through the architectural planning process; and 590 schools which were recently given approval to complete essential small-scale projects under the summer works scheme. I am pleased to inform Deputy Wall that Athy community college is included in this number, having secured funding to upgrade its gas system.

With regard to the school's large-scale project, in May 1999 the school authority, Kildare Vocational Education Committee, applied for the replacement of its building. This was agreed and an accommodation brief for a new school was set at 350 pupil places. The VEC appealed this decision, arguing for a 500 pupil facility based on its assessment of the anticipated increase in the demographics of the area, an anticipated increased demand for post-leaving certificate and vocational training opportunities scheme courses and a naturally accruing demand for places in a new state-of-the-art facility.

The matter was reviewed in the school planning section of the Department of Education and Science and it was decided that an accommodation brief based on a long-term projected enrolment of 400 pupil places was more realistic. A design team was appointed on this basis and the proposed project reached stage 1 in the architectural planning process. A review was carried out at that point to firm up on the size of the school for the design team. On foot of this review, it emerged that there was a significant decline in enrolments. In view of this development and the level of investment which would be required to facilitate a relatively small number of pupils, it was decided not to allow the proposed building project to progress through architectural planning until a complete review of the long-term viability of the school has been carried out. This is under way in the school planning section of the Department. The review will be carried out as quickly as possible and the school authority will be notified of the outcome without delay.

Once again I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the processes used by the Department of Education and Science in determining how projects are assessed for capital funding. These processes are employed in the interests of openness and transparency, and to reassure all schools that they will be treated in a fair and equitable manner.