Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects. 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 focused determination to improve the condition of our school buildings and ensure the appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum.

Under the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013, funding of €4.5 billion will be invested in the first and second level schools modernisation and development programme. This unprecedented level of investment will allow us to meet the needs of a growing school population, modernise existing school facilities and provide for curriculum reform and innovation.

A total of 7,800 individual schools building projects were delivered for the €2.6 billion investment during the 2000-06 period of the previous national development plan. The completion of building projects under the €4.5 billion investment in the new NDP will benefit from recent innovations in delivery mechanisms which have allowed for fast tracking of priority school developments. Schools will have noted that activity under the new plan is already under way, with 1,500 schools building projects due to be delivered in 2007. In addition, in association with the Minister, I announced yesterday the approval of more than €87 million for building projects in 250 schools under the permanent accommodation and small schools schemes.

On the specific matter in hand, an application for capital funding towards the provision of additional accommodation has been received in the school planning section of the Department from Scoil Naomh Iosaf, Adare, County Limerick. The application is being examined with a view to establishing the future accommodation needs of the school. The continued future use of the Old Monastery CBS building and land will be taken into consideration in the course of this assessment. The project is banded in accordance with the prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects and will be considered in the context of the multiannual schools building and modernisation programme.

I thank the Senator for raising the matter which allows me to outline the progress being made under the schools building and modernisation programme and the position of Scoil Naomh Iosaf, Adare, County Limerick.