Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for affording me the opportunity of outlining the proposals of my Department regarding the proposed refurbishment project at Ballymahon vocational school, County Longford. The building unit of my Department received an application from County Longford Vocational Education Committee for the refurbishment of the existing building at Ballymahon vocational school and the proposed project was included in section 9 of the 2004 school building programme. This means the project is at early architectural planning. The project is at stage 1, initial sketch, and has a band 2 rating.

Officials from my Department are reviewing all projects not authorised to proceed to construction as part of the 2004 programme, including the project at Ballymahon vocational school, with a view to including them as one of a number of schools listed to progress through architectural planning. Over the past few weeks my Department has also made a series of announcements relating to the schools building and modernisation programme, which included 122 major school building projects authorised to prepare tenders and move to construction during 2005; 192 schools invited to deliver their building projects on the basis of devolved funding; and 43 schools authorised to commence architectural planning. My Department plans to make further announcements regarding schools whose projects will progress through the design process together with details of schools identified as suitable for construction under public private partnerships.

I am delighted that my Department recently announced the successful applicants for the 2005 summer works scheme. With more than €62 million available for works deemed absolutely necessary, which is double the 2004 funding, we have provided 590 schools with funding under the expanded scheme this year. The increase in numbers of schools applying and projects involved is evidence of the success of this scheme. All the projects approved have been assessed as priority projects by the schools themselves. There is also the minimum of disruption for the school community as work is carried out during the summer months.

Works of an urgent nature required to be undertaken at the school may be addressed through the summer works scheme. The school made an application under the 2004 scheme for the refurbishment of a science laboratory but this was not deemed absolutely necessary as per priorities detailed in the circular of the scheme. In 2005, €270 million will be allocated to primary schools and €223 million to post-primary schools for building and modernisation works, which represents an increase of 14% on last year and is six times greater than in 1997. I thank the Senator for the opportunity to outline the current position in this case.