Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Terry for raising this matter on the Adjournment. The Department's current position regarding the allocation of funding for school projects was outlined by the Minister some time ago and is available on the Department's website. In addition, the capital programme has been published. Full details regarding individual projects, including schools being provided with temporary accommodation, are available on the website. I accept that this seems somewhat cold. While I take on board the Senator's strong case regarding the lack of facilities and permanent versus prefabricated accommodation and the provision of an additional three classrooms, I am not in a position to tell her that this will definitely happen.

The programme has been designed to give maximum information to managers, boards of management, principals, parents and students. The criteria used for selecting projects have also been published for the first time. This year's building programme amounts to €342.9 million, four times the amount allocated in 1997. I know the Senator will say that her area needs only a small percentage of that amount. The 2003 programme will deliver more than 140 large-scale projects at primary and post-primary level. In addition, more than 400 schools will benefit in some way from the capital programme and of course all primary schools benefit directly from the devolved grant scheme for minor works.

The budgetary allocation for 2004 and subsequent years will determine the rate of progress on projects at schools currently in the advanced stages of architectural planning such as the permanent building projects for Mary Mother of Hope national school in Castaheany. The Department has provided grant aid for the provision of additional temporary accommodation to which the Senator referred. This project is currently nearing completion. The management authorities at individual schools should continue to use funds from their devolved grant to deal with any urgent health and safety matters.

I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline the current position to the House. I will bring her views to the Minister's attention no later than tomorrow. I regret I do not have a more favourable reply for her. I have no doubt that she, the board of management, the principal and all involved will continue to make a strong case in this regard.