Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator McCarthy for raising the matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and to outline the position regarding Clonakilty community college.

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 focused determination to improve the condition of our school buildings and to ensure 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 primary and post-primary schools during 2006. This year, approximately €500 million is being spent on primary and post-primary projects. The Senator will agree this record level of investment is a lasting testament to the high priority the Government attaches to this sector.

There are two schools serving the post-primary needs of Clonakilty — Clonakilty community college, which is co-educational, and Sacred Heart secondary school, which is an all-girls school. Clonakilty community college was formed in 1980 as a result of the amalgamation of the town's vocational school and St. Mary's boys' secondary school. It operates under the aegis of County Cork Vocational Education Committee. The community college was built in 1980 to cater for 400 pupils. Since then, additional accommodation has been provided to cater for increasing enrolments.

Cork VEC requested that the Department of Education and Science review the accommodation at the college and make capital funding available for refurbishment and extension. This application was processed having regard to all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends in the area and the overall accommodation requirements of the post-primary schools in Clonakilty. An accommodation brief to cater for a long-term enrolment of 550 has been agreed with the school authorities. Schedules of accommodation were revised earlier this year to ensure the appropriate level of accommodation is provided to meet the school's long-term needs. This project is under active consideration in the Department and will be progressed in the context of the schools building and modernisation programme, 2006-10.

I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline the position with this school project and to highlight the great amount of work being undertaken by the Department of Education and Science in implementing the schools building and modernisation programme to ensure infrastructure of the highest standard is available for all our schoolgoing population.