Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe.

I thank the Senators for raising this matter, as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and the current position in respect of Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew, County Galway in particular. I do not doubt the school is proud of its two past pupils who are now Members of Seanad Éireann.

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.

There are four band ratings overall, of which band one is the highest and band four the lowest. Band one projects, for example, include the provision of buildings where none currently exists, but there is a high demand for pupil places, while a band four project makes provision of desirable, but not necessarily urgent or essential facilities, such as a library or new sports hall. The proposed extension and refurbishment of Holy Rosary College has been assigned a band rating of 2.2.

The brief for the Holy Rosary College project is to provide adequate accommodation for a long-term projected enrolment of 550 pupils. This brief is considerably wider than the provision of a stand-alone physical education hall and includes the provision of other accommodation, such as a language lab, computer room, music-drama area, religion room and other ancillary accommodation. Some refurbishment of the existing school building forms part of the brief.

Information on stage 2a, that is, developed sketch scheme of architectural planning, was submitted by the design team in early 2008 and, on review by the Department's technical team, further information was requested in July. This was submitted to the Department in January 2009. It is being assessed and officials from the Department will be in further contact with the school authorities when the assessment is completed.

The progression of all large-scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction is dependent on the prioritisation of competing demands on the funding available under the Department's capital budget. The project will be considered on an ongoing basis in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme.

The allocation for school buildings in 2009 is €581 million, which represents a significant investment in the school building and modernisation programme. This level of funding for the building programme at a time of great pressure on public finances is a sign of the Government's commitment to investing in school infrastructure and will permit the continuation of progress in the overall improvement of school accommodation. The Senators will be aware that, under the recovery plan announced last night by the Taoiseach, additional funds have been allocated to the schools building programme.

I thank the Senators again for giving me the opportunity to outline to the Seanad how the Department intends to address the needs of Holy Rosary College. However, in light of current economic circumstances and with competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the further progression of the project at this time.