Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I am happy to reply on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, who, unfortunately, cannot be present. Timing is important in any business but particularly in politics and I compliment the Senator on his timely intervention on this matter. As he may be aware, the Minister announced details of 43 major school building projects that are to go to tender and construction this year earlier. I am pleased to inform him that the proposed building project for Newpark comprehensive is included in this announcement. The project for the school involves the provision of a new, state-of-the-art building to cater for 800 pupils on the existing school site. This development will ensure an appropriate learning environment for the pupils of the area for many years to come.

Overall, the 43 projects that will proceed to site this year will create more than 19,600 places by way of new schools, extensions to existing schools and refurbished schools. The building projects will provide permanent primary school places for over 9,800 pupils in 21 new schools and seven extended and refurbished schools. At post-primary level, 5,600 students will have permanent school accommodation in eight new schools. A further 4,275 students in seven post-primary schools will benefit from major extension and refurbishment projects. Five of the school building projects are being re-tendered under the new form of contracts for public capital projects to achieve the best value for money in the construction sector. The remaining 38 projects will go to tender and construction as soon as possible and it is expected that building work will begin on the majority of these projects this year.

Officials will shortly contact each school, including Newpark comprehensive, about the next steps they should take. This year, a record €656 million will be invested in the school building programme. The 43 major projects announced earlier to proceed to tender and construction, along with a further 35 projects announced over the past four months, represent significant new business for the construction industry at a time of severe contraction in that sector. The more competitive environment in the sector will allow the Department to maximise the return it gets for the capital resources invested in the school building programme. The increased spend this year demonstrates the Government's desire to continue investing in the productive capacity of the economy, to create construction jobs and to provide school children and teachers with the best educational environment in which to learn and work.

Earlier, details of 25 high priority major school building projects that are to start architectural planning were announced. The majority of these projects were previously approved in principle to enter architectural planning. These projects have been selected to start architectural planning now because they will provide a significant number of additional school places in areas where demographic demand is great. Later in the year, the Minister intends to announce further projects to begin architectural planning and he will shortly reveal full details of this year's summer works scheme and a new plan to improve energy efficiency in schools.

I thank the Senator for raising the issue of the school building project for Newpark comprehensive and I am pleased both to give him good news about this project and to outline the enormous extent of the work which will be carried out under the school building programme this year.