Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I am taking this adjournment on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, Minister for Education and Science. I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the position with regard to the proposed school building project for St. Mary's College, Knockbeg, County Carlow.

St. Mary's College is an all-boys' post-primary school which had an enrolment of 388 pupils for the 2007-08 school year. This represents an increase of 19% over the past five years. It is the intention of the Department of Education and Science to provide an extension at this school to cater for the growing demand for pupil places. In this regard, the long-term projected enrolment is 450 pupils. An extensive refurbishment project will also be carried out to the existing building. The project attracts a band 2 rating under the Department's published prioritisation for large-scale building projects. This reflects the fact that a significant extension is needed and that extensive refurbishment is also required.

The project was included in an announcement on 8 November 2006 about the start of architectural planning, but, unfortunately, the funding for this has not yet been available. As part of the process of preparing the building project to move into architectural planning, it has emerged that part of the existing school building is listed on the national inventory of architectural heritage. It will therefore be necessary to appoint a conservation architect to establish the scope of the works necessary to comply with the Planning and Development Act 2000. The outcome of this will inform the Department on whether it will be economically viable to continue with the plans to develop the existing site.

The Minister for Education and Science recently met the school authority and I am pleased to inform the Senator that at this meeting he agreed to make funding available for the appointment of a conservation architect so that this aspect of the proposed project could be dealt with. When the outcome of this is known, a decision can be taken as to how best the school's accommodation needs can be met and consideration can then be given by the Department to the further progression of the project under the school building and modernisation programme in the context of competing priorities and the level of funding available.

The Minister appreciates the disappointment of the school community that the project has not proceeded before now and he is aware it had been hoped the project would proceed prior to 2006. Unfortunately, the level of demand on the Department's capital programme is enormous and projects can only be advanced based on the priority attaching to them and as funding is available. Funding of almost €180,000 has been given to St. Mary's College under the summer works scheme in the recent past to improve conditions while it is waiting for its large-scale project. A band 2 rating is the second highest possible and this positions the project to move forward as soon as the requisite funding is available.

Notwithstanding the current challenging economic environment, the overall increase in the budget of the Department of Education and Science reflects the Government's commitment to prioritising investment in the education sector in very difficult economic circumstances. An initial capital allocation of €581 — sorry, €581 million — in the budget for 2009 was boosted earlier this week by a further €75 million.