Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Browne for raising this matter as they provide me with the opportunity to outline to the Seanad, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, the extensive work being undertaken by the Department of Education and Science under the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2005-2009 and to outline the current position on the proposed building projects for scoil náisiúnta Bhinn an Choire, Bennekerry, and scoil náisiúnta Mhuire gan Smál, Green Lane, Carlow.

Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and 750 post-primary schools is not an easy task given the legacy of decades of under-investment in this area as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth. Nonetheless, since taking office, the Government has shown a sincere determination to improve the condition of our school buildings and ensure that appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum. We have progressively increased funding for the school modernisation programme in recent years to achieve our goal with an aggregate total of almost €2 billion allocated for this purpose since 1998, the largest investment programme in the history of the State.

Since the beginning of this year the Minister has made a number of announcements relating to the school building and modernisation programme. This year alone, €270 million will be allocated to primary schools and €223 million to post-primary schools for building works. That represents an increase of 14% in the 2004 allocation. The range of projects being supported include the following: 141 major building projects already on site and a further 28 due to commence in the coming weeks; 122 major school building projects countrywide, which will prepare tenders and move to construction over the next 15 months; 192 primary schools which have been invited to take part in the small and rural schools initiative and the devolved scheme for providing additional accommodation; up to 120 schools which have been given approval to rent temporary premises pending delivery of a permanent solution to their long-term accommodation needs; 43 schools which have been authorised to start architectural planning of their major projects and 124 which have been approved to progress through the architectural planning process; and 590 schools which were given approval to complete essential small-scale projects under the summer works scheme.

The proposed projects for scoil náisiúnta Binn an Choire and scoil Mhuire gan Smál were assessed against the published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects which were revised recently following consultation with the education partners. The projects were assigned a band 2.4 rating to indicate that they require extensions of less than 50% of their accommodation and moderate refurbishment works. I am pleased to inform Senator Browne that the Department of Education and Science has included the schools among the 73 primary school projects authorised to progress through the architectural planning process during this year. Further progress will be considered in the context of the school building programme as it goes forward.

I thank Senator Browne for providing me with the opportunity to outline the status of the school projects in question and to highlight the significant work being undertaken by the Department of Education and Science. The school building and modernisation programme is being implemented to ensure that infrastructure of the highest standard is available to the entire school-going population.