Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also to outline the current position in relation to Scoil Chonaill Naofa, Bunbeg. The Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, wishes to make clear that modernising facilities in our existing building stock, as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth, is a significant challenge and one which he intends to prioritise as Minister for Education and Science.

The Government has dramatically increased investment in the school building programme to almost €600 million this year. The expected completion in 2008 of 67 large scale projects at primary level and 19 projects at post-primary level will benefit over 18,000 students and construction work on 150 devolved projects will provide an additional 8000 permanent places in existing primary schools. The Senator will also be aware that last month, the Minister announced a further tranche of 24 large-scale projects to progress to tender and construction.

This year has also seen a particular emphasis on the delivery of additional school places in rapidly developing areas with the construction of 26 new schools under the fast track off-site construction programme. Construction is also due to start in 2008 on the first bundle of public private partnership schools, while further ones 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 be delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country. The emphasis, however, will continue to be on new schools and extensions to provide additionality in rapidly developing areas.

All applications for capital funding are assessed against published prioritisation criteria to determine the extent and type of need presenting based on the demographics of an area, proposed housing developments, condition of buildings and site capacity, leading ultimately to an appropriate accommodation solution. Projects are then 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. The project for Scoil Chonaill Naofa has been assigned a band rating of 2.1.

A report from a local electrical contractor outlining issues regarding the electrics in the current school building has recently been received by my Department. In practical terms, individual school authorities are best placed to assess the detail of their own health and safety requirements. The introduction in January 1997 of the Grant Scheme for Minor Works to National School Properties gave school authorities the scope to address maintenance issues of most immediate concern to them. Since the introduction of the scheme in 1997, Scoil Chonaill Naofa has received in excess of €50,000 for works which can include improvement or replacement of electrical services.

With regard to the project for refurbishment and extension of Scoil Chonaill Naofa, the design team on the project for this are currently working on stage 4-5 documentation which involves the preparation of tender documents. Planning permission has been received. Clarification regarding the provision of temporary accommodation for the duration of the project was requested from the design team and its response is currently being examined by the Department's technical staff.

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. Further progression of the school building project at Scoil Chonaill Naofa will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme. The Minister wishes to assure the Senator that the project will be progressed when the necessary resources are available to allow this to happen.