Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, who is unable to be here. I assure the Senator that I will bring the contents of his contribution to the attention of the Minister tomorrow.

As the Senator is aware, all applications for capital funding are assessed in the modernisation and policy unit of the Department of Education and Science. The assessment process determines the extent and type of need presenting based on the demographics of an area, proposed housing developments, condition of buildings, site capacity etc., leading ultimately to an appropriate accommodation solution. As part of this process, a project is assigned a band rating under published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects. These criteria were devised following consultation with the education partners. Projects are selected for inclusion in the school building and modernisation programme on the basis of priority of need. This is reflected in the band rating assigned to a project. In other words, a proposed building project moves through the system commensurate with the band rating assigned to it.

As the Senator is aware, almost €600 million in public funding is being provided for school buildings during 2008. This will enable the completion of work on 67 large-scale primary schools projects that will deliver 7,000 additional permanent school places in new schools and 2,300 additional permanent school places in existing schools; construction work on 150 devolved projects under the permanent accommodation scheme which will provide 8,000 additional places in existing primary schools; in the post-primary sector construction work will be completed on 19 large-scale projects, which will provide 2,400 permanent school places in four new schools; and additional accommodation and refurbishment works in 15 schools that will benefit over 7,000 pupil attendees; the purchase of sites to facilitate the smooth delivery of the school building programme particularly in rapidly developing areas; and the progression of new projects through architectural planning and design stages.

On 1 February last, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, announced the first tranche of projects that will proceed to construction this year. Further announcements will be made as the budgetary position for 2008 allows. Construction is also due to start in 2008 on the first bundle of PPP schools, while further will be offered to the market next year with a view to building work commencing in later years.

This is an enormous programme of work by any standards and, while there will continue to be a focus during the year on providing extra places in developing areas, the Department will also deliver improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country. The emphasis, however, will be on new schools and extensions to provide additionality in rapidly developing areas.

To address the projects of particular concern for the Senator, Dromclough national school is a co-educational facility with a current enrolment of 193 pupils. Since 2001, this represents a modest increase in enrolment of 29 pupils. The school has a current staffing of a principal, seven mainstream assistants and three learning support-resource teachers. The school authority submitted an application to the Department for large-scale capital funding for an extension project. The long-term staffing figure, on which accommodation needs will be based, has been determined. It has been agreed that accommodation should be provided to cater for a long-term projected staffing of a principal, eight mainstream assistants and appropriate ancillary accommodation.

Rahan national school is also a co-educational primary school with an enrolment of 91 pupils in September 2007. The school has a current staffing of a principal, three mainstream class teachers and one permanent learning support-resource teacher. The school has applied for a new school building. The long-term staffing has been agreed at a principal, eight mainstream assistants and appropriate ancillary accommodation.

Both these projects attract a band two rating. The next step for them is the appointment of a design team. This will be considered as the school building programme is rolled out over the coming months. In addition, an application by Rahan national school to replace temporary accommodation this year has been approved by the Department of Education and Science.

I thank the Senator for raising this matter and point out that over the lifetime of the national development plan the Government is providing funding of €4.5 billion for school buildings. This will be the largest investment programme in schools in the history of the State and it will enable my Department to ensure that school places are available where they are needed. This investment will allow my Department to continue the school building programme which commenced during the lifetime of the last national development plan when well over €2.6 billion was invested in school development, delivering over 7,800 projects.

I will bring the Senator's contribution to the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin.