Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, 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 Senator for raising this matter. It is clear from his presentation that issues must be addressed. He has provided me with the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and the current position of St. Aidan's comprehensive school, Cootehill.

Modernising facilities in our existing building stock, as well as responding to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth, is a significant challenge. The Government has shown a consistent determination to improve the condition of our school buildings and ensure that the appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum. 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 in the planning and building unit of the Department. 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 is 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 provides for desirable, but not necessarily urgent or essential, facilities, such as a library or a new sports hall.

With regard to St. Aidan's comprehensive school, the brief for this extension and refurbishment project is to provide accommodation for a long-term projected enrolment of 650 pupils. The project, which has been assigned a band rating of 2.4, is in early architectural planning. The Department's technical staff have visited the school to determine the appropriate schedule of accommodation. However, given the competing demands on the Department's capital budget, it is not possible at this stage to be precise about when this project will go to construction.

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 for St Aidan's will be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme. In the meantime, staff in the Department are carrying out a detailed examination of the application from St. Aidan's with a view to approving funding to carry out very urgently required improvement works to the school building as soon as possible. These were outlined by the Senator. The Department will be in contact with the school as soon as this examination is completed.

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 real commitment of the Government to investing in school infrastructure and will permit the continuation of progress in the overall improvement of school accommodation. The Senator will also be aware that under the recovery plan announced recently by the Taoiseach, a further €75 million has been allocated to the schools building programme for 2009.

I thank the Senator again for giving me the opportunity to outline the current position regarding the school building project for St. Aidan's comprehensive school. I have visited schools in a similar condition, mainly in my constituency, and recognise only too well the conditions described by the Senator. Like him, I would like to see those short-term and longer-term problems addressed as soon as possible.