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 Senator 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 position in relation to Scoil Chonaill Naofa, Bunbeg, County Donegal.

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. The Government has shown a consistent determination to improve the condition of our school buildings and to ensure that the appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum.

All applications for capital funding are assessed in the modernisation and policy unit of my 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, 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 exist, but there is a high demand for pupil places, while band four projects include provision of desirable, but not necessarily urgent or essential, facilities such as a library or new sports hall.

The brief for the extension-refurbishment project at Scoil Chonaill Naofa, Bunbeg is to provide accommodation for a long term projected staffing of a principal and four mainstream class teachers plus ancillary staff. The project, which has been assigned a band rating of 2.1, is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, and planning permission has been received. Deputy Batt O'Keeffe met with a deputation from Scoil Chonaill, Bunbeg in December 2008. A new cost-saving proposal for the decanting of pupils for the duration of the project was presented at the meeting and was welcomed by the Minister. However, given the competing demands on the Department's capital budget, it is not possible 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 my Department's capital budget. The project for Scoil Chonaill Naofa will continue to be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme.

The allocation for school buildings in 2009 is €656 million including the additional €75 million allocated under the recovery plan announced recently by the Taoiseach. This 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.

I thank the Senator again for giving me the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the current position regarding the school building projects for Scoil Chonaill Naofa, Bunbeg.