Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of school building projects awaiting progression by her Department; the classification of these projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40237/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is determined to ensure that every child is educated in a suitable and comfortable environment. Since 1997, great advances have been made in transforming school accommodation throughout the country through an investment of €3 billion. This has funded 7,800 individual school projects in the past seven years alone. This year we will spend €500 million on school buildings compared with just over €90 million in 1997. Under the 2006 budget, €3.9 billion is being provided over the years 2006-10 for capital projects at all levels of the education sector from primary to third level.

While the challenge before us in reversing decades of underinvestment in school buildings and in responding to emerging needs in new population areas is great, nonetheless we are making huge progress. The level of work being done under the school building programme is at an all-time high. While increased investment has been a central reason for this, the introduction of new schemes and changes in how projects are managed have also made a major difference.

Almost 800 schools were approved for summer works projects this year. This innovative scheme, which allows schools to get small projects done over the summer holidays, did not exist when we came into office and schools were waiting for many years for improvements such as rewiring, new roofs or windows. Now when the school gates close for the summer, the builders move in and the students come back to an improved environment just a few short months later.

To reduce red tape and allow projects to move faster, responsibility for smaller projects has been devolved to school level. Standard designs have also been developed for eight and 16-classroom schools to facilitate speedier delivery of projects and save on design fees. Improvements have also been made in forward planning through greater co-operation with local authorities and the publication of area development plans.

With regard to school building projects awaiting progression, the Deputy will be aware that the number of projects and their individual classifications can vary according to the stage of assessment and their progression though the building programme. At present, my Department has in the region of 1,300 applications for building works on the main building programme. These applications can range from extensions and refurbishments to applications for new schools on new sites. Their status can range from applications recently received in the Department to projects at various stages of architectural planning.

These projects are assessed and prioritised in accordance with the prioritisation criteria agreed with the education partners. In this regard, it should be noted that a project's banding can be subject to reassessment having regard to demographic developments in the area served by the school and also, for example, if on foot of a technical examination of the school it is found that the proposed project put forward by the school is not an appropriate design solution to meet the accommodation requirements.

In addition to the projects mentioned, there are approximately 400 applications under the small schools initiative and the permanent accommodation scheme, but many of these may also have applied under the main programme. These applications are currently being assessed with a view to an announcement being made shortly. In addition, applications for the summer works scheme 2007 are being evaluated.

The €3.9 billion envelope provided for education capital in the 2006 budget means that significant progress will continue to be made on school buildings in the coming years. This year alone, over 1,300 building projects will be delivered.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The Minister said I would be aware of all this, but unfortunately I am not. I have asked several questions on the issue but did not get specific answers. I am glad to hear 1,300 projects are in the pipeline. However, schools are entitled to know where they stand. Up to two years ago schools were able to check their position on the website and this saved people much time, particularly officials from the Department. On the website people could see the prioritisation and banding given to their schools. I ask the Minister to reinstate that facility because it was the most democratic and transparent way of operating and showing schools where they stood. I accept assessments and prioritisations may change for demographic reasons etc. People should be made aware of those reasons. I urge the Minister to reconsider providing this type of information on the website. I and other Deputies do not want Department officials spending time answering parliamentary questions in regard to individual schools. However, local people in different areas come to us for information and want to know the banding and the priority being given. It is unacceptable that this information is not available.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Some years ago, there was one annual announcement on school buildings, which took place at the beginning of the year, and no further announcements took place with regard to schools progressing. Given the number of different schemes currently in place, there have been perhaps eight different announcements so far this year.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Those schemes also existed during the time in office of the previous Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, when the information was on the website.

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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It is a public relations exercise.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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No. Under my predecessor, one announcement was made at the beginning of the year.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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But under all the different schemes.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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We now keep money rolling constantly through the pipeline. It no longer applies that we must spend all capital funding within a particular year. It is a rolling capital envelope, so we can show that more and more projects are getting into the system.

Given that 1,300 schools undertook modernisation projects this year, it is important they would be dealt with under a number of different schemes, particularly devolved schemes. Later this week I will announce another batch of schools that will go to tender over the next year to 15 months or so. There will then be a further announcement with regard to the summer works scheme for next year to allow schools to plan properly, and a further announcement on the permanent initiative. With so many schools undertaking projects, the schools realise the investment taking place is helping them to deliver both small scale and large scale solutions for schools that have experienced under-investment for many years.

Some 1,300 schools are in the building programme and this year alone 1,300 schools — it is a coincidence of numbers — are undertaking building projects. Significant progress is being made on all of those buildings.

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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It is not happening in north Cork.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Nor in Dublin North-Central.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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I wish to ask the Minister about a specific aspect of this issue, namely, the progression from temporary accommodation to permanent accommodation for new schools. For example, there are five Gaelscoileanna in my constituency, four of which are in temporary accommodation — one in particular, Gaelscoil Sáirséil, is in appalling condition. Another example is that of the Educate Together schools. Of the 23 new Educate Together schools opened since 2000, 22 are in temporary accommodation. Educate Together has had to refuse four groups of parents in various parts of the country applications under their patronage for new schools due to the cost of schools being housed in temporary accommodation. It is a serious problem. For example, a parent in Carlow to whom I spoke thought a school would open next year but it now has no patron.

Will the Minister address the problem of schools remaining in temporary accommodation for such a long period, particularly with regard to the Educate Together crisis?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are 4,000 schools in the country, a number of which are in very old buildings which need to be preserved and protected. They too are entitled to the facilities they need. A new school coming on stream only gets permanent recognition after three years. Each school has to prove there is a need for it and that it will have the numbers. It will never be possible to give them permanent accommodation in a new area.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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That needs to change.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are obviously difficulties with regard to the school in Limerick to which the Deputy referred. The OPW has been anxiously trying to source a site for it.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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They are in a chicken shed in Balbriggan and a mortuary in Navan.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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We have area development plans and strategic development zones, and we have made arrangements with county councils, particularly the county council in Fingal, where we will build 20 new schools in the coming years.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We are 15 years behind.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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We have already made arrangements with Fingal County Council that school sites will be identified.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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What about St. Michael's House? It is in a chicken shed. That is where pupils are going to school.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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It will then be able to provide us with a site and we will be able to build sporting accommodation and community facilities which can be used by the school and the community. Those are the type of initiatives taking place. Only last week, the Taoiseach turned the sod for a new school in Adamstown where no house has been built yet.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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That does not solve the problem.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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It shows that with new initiatives we are moving ahead and making progress.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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That does not provide the information needed.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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We do not need history lessons.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister should go to Newbridge and sort out the problems there.