Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

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 also to outline the current position of Scoil Mhuire, Moycullen, County Galway.

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 consistent determination to improve the condition of our school buildings and to ensure 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 school 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. 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 there is a high demand for pupil places, while a band four project makes provision for desirable, but not necessarily urgent or essential facilities, such as a library or new sports hall.

For Scoil Mhuire, Moycullen, County Galway, the original brief for this extension project was to provide sufficient accommodation for a long-term projected staffing of a principal, 12 mainstream class teachers and ancillary staff, and the project was assigned a band two rating. The Department has been contacted by the school authority regarding its projected long-term needs and is awaiting submission of a detailed proposal from the school and its patron in this regard.

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 Scoil Mhuire, Moycullen, County Galway will be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme. 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 allocation for school buildings in 2009 is €656 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 very real commitment of this Government to investing in school infrastructure and will permit the continuation of progress in the overall improvement of school accommodation. The Senator will understand that it is not possible to progress all projects at the same time. However, the Minister is committed to continuing to invest in school accommodation.

I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the current position regarding the school building project for Scoil Mhuire, Moycullen.