John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the Seanad the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and the current position regarding Gaelscoil Philib Barún, Tramore. 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.

Funding to address the capital investment requirements of approximately 3,200 primary and 730 post-primary schools is ongoing. The Government has dramatically increased investment in the school building programme from slightly more than €90 million in 1997 to €586.2 million this year. Under 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.

On the specific matter in hand, the application for a new school for Gaelscoil Philib Barún, Tramore, was assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects and assigned a 2.2 band rating. Having regard to competing demands on the building programme for funding for higher priority projects, it was not possible to progress the building project for Gaelscoil Philib Barún, Tramore.

The programme for Government contains a commitment to establish a developing areas unit. This unit was recently established and will focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas, including Tramore. The main emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in these developing areas, as well as delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country. In this context, the status of the project for Gaelscoil Philib Barún will be reassessed and banded accordingly. As is the case with all large capital projects currently on hand within the developing areas unit, progression of the project to tender and construction will be considered in the context of the multiannual school building and modernisation programme.

I thank the Senator again for affording me the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the current position regarding Gaelscoil Philib Barún, Tramore.