Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter for inclusion in the Adjournment debate. Ballintemple national school, which has an enrolment of 214 pupils, is an old school with a rich history. It first opened its doors in 1904. It has an excellent staff under the leadership of its principal, Mr. Denis O'Sullivan. The school receives strong support from the local community and the active parents' association, which supports the school's activities in every way possible. Its catchment area is the parish of Ballintemple. The school operates from two sites. Since 2002, the junior and senior infant classes have been based in portakabins at a site on the Blackrock Road that was provided by the SMA Fathers. The remaining six classes are based in the old school building at Crab Lane, which is the base of the school. The school's lease of the site that is currently occupied by the junior and senior infant classes will expire in May 2010. The school faces a real risk that the lease will not be renewed. I would like to know whether progress can be made with the development of a new school building for the school. It is important to point out that approximately 700 residential units have been built in Ballintemple since 1995. The proposal before the Department of Education and Science involves the development of a new 12-teacher school building at a 1.5 acre site on the Blackrock Road in Cork. While the SMA Fathers have generously offered to provide the site free of charge, the Department would be unwise to assume that the offer will remain in place indefinitely. The Department has deemed that the site in question is appropriate for the construction of a new school building.

It is important to emphasise that there are serious capacity issues at Ballintemple national school at present. I understand that eight local children were turned away this year, unfortunately, because of the lack of capacity at the school. As a single stream school, it can accept just one class of junior infants each year. The demographics of the area, about which I have spoken, mean that this problem will get worse in the years to come. In advance of the 2010-11 school year, some 45 children have already sought a place in the school's single junior infants class of 28 or 30 pupils. That demonstrates the need for the Department to take action in this regard as quickly as possible. The proposed site, which is being made available free of charge, is in an excellent location. There should be no other impediment to the development of this project as quickly as possible. As I have said, the site has been deemed appropriate as the location of the new school building. In September 2007, the Department's school planning section confirmed in writing that the Department, having conducted a technical study of the site, recommended its acquisition for the purpose of developing a new school. It appears that no substantive progress has been made with the project since that time. I ask the Minister for Education and Science to seriously consider the inclusion of Ballintemple national school in the Department's 2010 school capital programme. I understand that an announcement in that regard will be made before Christmas or early in the new year. I appeal to the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, to make the right decision so that the staff and pupils of the school can have an appropriate environment in which to teach and learn. The children should be allowed to continue their education in what is otherwise a fabulous school environment.

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I am happy to reply on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, who cannot be present, unfortunately. I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this matter and giving me an opportunity to outline to the Dáil the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects, particularly the proposed project at Scoil losaf Naofa, Ballintemple national school. In March 2002, the school submitted an application to the Department of Education and Science for capital funding towards the provision of a new school. The school has a current staffing level of a principal and eight mainstream teachers. It also has the services of two learning support or resource teachers. The school has advised the Department that a site has been offered by the SMA Fathers. It has been agreed that appropriate accommodation should be provided to cater for a long-term projected staffing of a principal and 12 mainstream assistants, along with appropriate ancillary accommodation. The school authorities were advised in September 2007 that the proposed site for the new school building was suitable for the construction of a 12-classroom school and that they should proceed with its acquisition from the SMA Fathers.

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, etc. The process ultimately leads to an appropriate accommodation solution. As part of this process, each project is assigned a band rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. The criteria were devised following consultation with the education partners. Projects are selected for inclusion in the school building and modernisation programme on the basis of priority of need. This is reflected in the band rating assigned to a project. In other words, a proposed building project moves through the system commensurate with the rating assigned to it. There are four ratings overall, of which band 1 is the highest and band 4 the lowest. Band 1 projects, for example, involve the provision of buildings where none exists, but where there is a high demand for pupil places. A band 4 project involves the provision of desirable but not necessarily urgent or essential facilities. Each band rating has a number of sub-categories which more specifically describe the type of works needed and the urgency attaching to them. The application from Scoil losaf Naofa, Ballintemple national school, has been assigned a band 1.1 rating.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the modernisation of the facilities in our existing building stock, like the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth, is a significant challenge. The Government has shown a consistent determination to improve the condition of our school buildings and ensure the appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum. However, the level of demand on the school building programme means that all projects cannot be carried out together. They will have to be carried out over time in a structured and coherent manner. This is the reasoning behind the Department's published prioritisation criteria. The project at Scoil losaf Naofa, Ballintemple national school, will be carried out in a manner that is consistent with this approach. I thank the Deputy again for raising the matter and, as I have already said, to assure him that the Minister is committed to advancing the project at Ballintemple national school.