Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and the current position in regard to the future plans for Gaelscoil Bharra in Cabra. Modernising facilities in our 3,300 primary and 731 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 consistent 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.

The Government has dramatically increased investment in the schools building programme to almost €600 million this year. During the lifetime of the national development plan, almost €4.5 billion will be invested in schools. This is an unprecedented level of capital investment which reflects the commitment of the Government to continue its programme of sustained investment in primary and post-primary schools. It will underpin a particular emphasis on the delivery of additional school places in rapidly developing areas while continuing to deliver on the Government's commitment to delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary accommodation throughout the State. It will also enable the purchase of sites to facilitate the smooth delivery of the schools building programme, with the focus again on site requirements in rapidly developing areas.

Turning to the specific matter in hand, the Office of Public Works, OPW, which acts on behalf of the Department of Education and Science in regard to site acquisitions generally was requested to source a greenfield site for this school. On foot of advertising, no proposals were received for a greenfield site in the Cabra area. Further to this, the OPW was requested by the Department to look into building a permanent school on the existing site. Several issues have arisen in regard to this proposal for which, I understand, clarification is being sought. The school authorities will be notified immediately when progress is made.

I take on board the Senator's points in regard to the emergency nature of some of these works and I will bring that to the attention of the schools building section.