Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and to outline the position of the Department of Education and Science regarding the development of education provision in the school referred to by the Senator.

Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and 750 post-primary schools is not an easy task given the legacy of decades of underinvestment in this area as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth. Nonetheless, since taking office, this Government has shown a focused determination to improve the condition of 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, in excess of €540 million will be spent on building and modernisation projects in the coming year on primary and post-primary schools. Since 1997, a total of €3 billion has been invested in school buildings and this has delivered more than 7,800 school building projects. The additional investment of more than €540 million will build on these achievements and will focus in particular on the provision of school accommodation in areas where the population is growing at a rapid rate. As further evidence of our commitment, national development plan funding of €4.5 billion will be invested in schools over the coming years.

I am sure the Senator will agree that this record level of investment is a positive testament to the high priority the Government attaches to ensuring school accommodation is of the highest standard possible. On top of this, to reduce red tape and allow projects to move more quickly, responsibility for smaller projects has been devolved to school level. Standard designs have also been developed for eight and 16-classroom schools to facilitate speedier delivery of projects and save on design fees. The design and build method is also used to expedite delivery where the use of standard designs is not possible. Taken together with the unprecedented level of funding available, these initiatives ensure building projects are delivered in the fastest timeframe possible.

Ballylanders national school, County Limerick, submitted an application under the small schools scheme in 2007. On 5 March 2007, the Department of Education and Science announced details of the schools to receive funding under this scheme. Owing to the volume of applications received in the Department it was not possible to allocate funding to all proposed projects and Ballylanders was not successful in this instance. However, the board of management of the school has made an appeal, which is under consideration in the Department. Once a decision on the appeal has been reached, officials from the Department will contact the school authorities. Once again, I thank the Senator for raising this matter which allows me to outline the progress being made under the school building and modernisation programme and the position regarding Ballylanders national school, County Limerick.