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 to outline the current position regarding Clifden community school, Clifden, County Galway.

At the outset, I wish to note that 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 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 1 is the highest and band 4 the lowest. Band 1 projects, for example, include the provision of buildings where none currently exists but there is a high demand for pupil places, while a band 4 project makes provision of desirable but not necessarily urgent or essential facilities, such as a library or new sports hall. The proposed new school building for Clifden community school has been assigned a band 2 rating.

The new school building project for Clifden community school is based on a long-term projected enrolment of 425 pupils. The current enrolment is 423 pupils, including 19 post leaving certificate pupils. The proposed new school building includes general classrooms, science laboratories, a woodwork and construction studies room, a technical graphics room, a general purpose and dining area and other ancillary accommodation.

The school authorities were informed in January 2008 that stage 3, the detailed design stage, for the project was approved but the project was not authorised to progress further at that time. In February, the Minister announced details of 43 major building projects to proceed to tender and construction and 25 high priority projects to commence architectural planning. The project for Clifden community school was not included in this announcement. Therefore, it is unlikely that it will be progressed further in 2009. 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 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 proposed building project for Clifden community school will continue to be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme for 2010 and subsequent years.

The allocation for school buildings in 2009 is almost €614 million. 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 for giving me the opportunity to outline the current position regarding the school building project for Clifden community school, Clifden, County Galway. I appreciate that I have no good news but I am happy to clarify the position.