Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I thank the Senators for raising the issue as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and the position regarding the development of education provision in St. Catherine's national school, Aughrim.

I apologise for the absence of the Minister, Deputy Hanafin.

Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and 750 post primary schools as well as responding to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth is a major priority for the Government. Since taking office, this 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.

St. Catherine's national school in Aughrim is a co-educational primary school. Enrolments at the school have increased from 90 in 2002 to 119 currently. The school was selected as one which appeared to be suitable for delivery of its building project under the permanent accommodation scheme 2005 and the school authority was offered funding of €300,000 to build two mainstream classrooms and two resource rooms. The school authority accepted this offer and proceeded with the planning of this project while, at the same time appealing the allocation under the scheme.

Subsequently, having considered its options under the scheme, the school authority notified the Department that it had decided to withdraw from the scheme and requested that it be considered for inclusion in the main programme for delivery by the traditional method, in line with the project's priority band rating.

Before progressing the project further and to ensure any capital funding being provided is appropriate to meet the school's long-term accommodation needs, it was necessary to review the long-term projected staffing figure on which the school's accommodation needs will be based.

Officials in the Department of Education and Science have just recently completed a re-assessment of projected enrolments and have determined that the long-term projected staffing for St. Catherine's national school, Aughrim will be for a principal plus eight mainstream teachers and this has been notified to the school authorities. The project will be progressed in the context of the school building and modernisation programme.

I thank the Senators once again for raising this matter and allowing me to outline the progress being made under the school building and modernisation programme and the position of St. Catherine's national school. I will bring to the attention of the Minister the views of both Senators regarding the technical team becoming actively involved in progressing the school.