Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I am replying to 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 provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also to outline the current position in regard to Clonakilty community college in particular.

Modernising facilities in the existing building stock as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth is a significant challenge and is one of the priorities of the Minister for Education and Science. The allocation of funding for school buildings in 2009 is €653 million. This represents a significant investment in the schools building and modernisation programme. This level of funding 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. Under the recovery plan announced recently by the Taoiseach, an additional €75 million was allocated to the schools building programme for 2009.

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 the lowest. Band one projects, for example, include the provision of buildings where none currently exists but where 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.

In regard to Clonakilty community college, the brief for this extension-refurbishment project is to provide accommodation for a long-term projected enrolment of 550 pupils. The project, which has been assigned a band rating of 2.4, is awaiting the appointment of a design team. 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. However, as the Senator will understand, it is not possible to progress all projects to construction at the same time. This project will continue to be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme. However, in light of current 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.

I again thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the current position regarding the school building project for Clonakilty community college.