Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the strategy of the Department of Education and Science for capital investment in education projects and also to outline the position regarding the development of education provision in Mercy College secondary school, Woodford, County Galway. 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 its determination to improve the condition of our school buildings and to ensure that the appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum.

As evidence of this commitment, there will be approximately 1,300 building and modernisation projects active in our primary and post primary schools this year. Over €490 million is being spent on the primary and post primary projects throughout the country. I am sure the House will agree this record level of investment is a positive testament to the high priority the Government attaches to this sector.

The Mercy College secondary school, Woodford, is a co-educational post primary school with a current enrolment of 264 pupils. Enrolment has increased slightly in recent years, from 218 pupils in 2001 to 264 this year. The school authority has an application with the Department of Education and Science for an extension. The long-term projected enrolment, on which the school's long term accommodation needs will be based, has been agreed with the school at 225 pupils.

Schedules of accommodation for the proposed extension were drawn up some time ago, presumably before the school population increased. Officials in the Department of Education and Science are currently re-examining these schedules to ensure that the level of accommodation being proposed will meet the long-term needs of the school. When these are confirmed, progression of the project will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2006-10.

I thank the Senator for raising the matter and I will convey what he said to the Minister. It might well be that the long-term needs were agreed at 225 pupils a few years ago. The number of pupils in the school has increased and the long-term projection must be right before the project goes ahead.