John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the 40 areas designated by his Department for additional primary school provision in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44463/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am arranging to circulate the list referred to by the Deputy for the information of the House. The forward planning section of my Department carried out an initial demographic analysis utilising the current enrolments in schools, and applied growth scenarios to those figures for each region based on information such as the CSO regional population projections 2011-26 to establish probable enrolments into the future. This information formed the basis of a priority list of areas requiring further investigation.

To complete this further analysis, the forward planning section of my Department utilises the latest in geographical information system, GIS, technology to assist in planning school requirements in the future. The GIS contains information on all schools in the country, at primary and post-primary level, geo-coded to their location. The information is then linked to the relevant demographic information for those areas - typically the demographic information will be from the Central Statistic's Office census data, the general register of births, the Department of Social and Family Affairs, An Post's geo-directory and information supplied by local authorities through development plans.

The requirement for additional primary provision in years 2010, 2011 and 2012 is likely to be greatest in more than 40 locations across the country based on significant changes to the demographics of those areas. A thorough analysis of all of these areas is in progress by the forward planning section of my Department. Information in regard to these areas has already been circulated to all existing school patrons, who have been invited to bring forward proposals for the expansion of existing schools or to put themselves forward as patron for any new primary school, should it be required. Any proposed building projects arising from the detailed studies carried out on those priority areas will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme for 2010 and subsequent years.

Priority List of Areas

To determine the areas where new school buildings will be required for September 2010 Forward Planning Section has examined the 42 areas (details provided) in terms of existing school capacity and projected junior infant intake (using data from Social Welfare and the GRO in terms of Child Benefit recipients and birth figures) and in this context it has been decided that it would be prudent to plan for new schools in the following areas for September 2010:

- Balbriggan, Dublin Fingal

- Swords, Dublin Fingal

- Doughiska, County Galway

- Naas, County Kildare

- Portlaoise, County Laois

- Drogheda, County Louth

- Navan, County Meath

- Ratoath, County Meath

- Enniscorthy, County Wexford

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister have the list of 40 areas?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I have arranged for it to be circulated to Members.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I understand it is in circulation and I have seen it. The list does not include priority areas in Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Kerry, Longford, Leitrim, Offaly or Waterford. Is the Minister aware that there is a perception that this is a priority list for the east of the country, as well as for his own area, County Cork? There are approximately four priority areas in the west, which include Ennis in County Clare, Galway and Letterkenny. Does the omission of counties from the list of priority areas mean there are no developing areas in those counties?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My constituency is not in the list in case the Deputy is wondering if there are developing areas in that part of Cork. I have always tried to maintain a balance in funding for schools throughout the country, and I will continue to maintain that balance. Last year, I put funding in place for a summer works scheme that enhanced 2,700 schools. They were not left out at all. The statistics for previous years show a fair spread of funding between developing areas and the rest of the country. I will continue to maintain that balance. There will be a further summer works scheme next year, with water conservation as part of the scheme. I have provided €30 million this year for minor works in schools throughout the country. Overall, 3,000 schools will have benefitted from that grant aid over the past 12 months.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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All of that has been taken on board. What I am really concerned about is the schools in non-priority areas that have waited from five to 20 years for development. The Minister met a delegation last week from my constituency. The Department has paid €74,000 this year for prefabs for the delegation's school, and has paid that for the past 15 years. The Minister must understand the position of these schools. They see that estimates or tenders are 30% less than previously, while they discovered a month ago that half the Department's allocation for school buildings has not been spent. The Minister says it will be spent by the end of the year; we will wait and see if that is so. Now these schools are being excluded from the priority areas. The Minister must give these non-priority areas some hope today.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Those areas have not been forgotten. There is the summer works scheme and the devolved grant scheme. I can provide the Deputy with the percentages.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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A summer works scheme does not build a school.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The two major projects in the Deputy's area of County Mayo that I announced early this year have commenced. One is nearly completed, so the Deputy cannot claim that Mayo has been left out of the frame. It has done well.

I will maintain a balance between developing, rural and urban areas. The Government is committed to ensuring sufficient funding for a schools programme. Last year saw the greatest amount of money ever spent and the greatest outturn. For once and for all, I want to put something to bed, namely, money that is left over is committed to projects to be completed in 2010. If one announces a project in 2009, it might take 12-18 months to be completed and paid for. There can be a carry-over into the following year of 10%, representing €84 million this year due to my budget.

I am prepared to do something that might be of importance for Deputies. My officials will be available to make a presentation to the Deputies present regarding all of these matters. They have already done so for others and I would be happy to provide them again.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We have had that.