Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I am happy to respond to the debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, who unfortunately cannot be in the House this evening. 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 on Gaelscoil na Camóige, Clondalkin.

Modernising facilities in our existing building stock, in addition to responding to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth, is a significant challenge. The Government is determined to improve the condition of our school buildings and to ensure the appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of the curriculum.

The allocation for school buildings in 2009 is €614 million. This represents a significant investment in the schools building and modernisation programme. This 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.

All applications for capital funding are assessed in the planning and building unit of the Department of Education and Science. The assessment process determines the extent and type of need presenting based on the demographics of an area, proposed housing developments, the 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 schools 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 exist but where there is a high demand for pupil places, while a band four project makes provision desirable, but it would not necessarily relate to urgent or essential facilities. I refer to a library or new sports hall.

The position on Gaelscoil na Camóige is that this school is a fully vertical, co-educational primary school catering for children from junior infants to sixth class. The school has a core staff comprising a principal and eight mainstream teachers. It also has the services of two resource teachers. The school authority is renting temporary accommodation which is located on the grounds of Áras Chrónáin. Áras Chrónáin occupies the southern part of the site and is a centre for Irish cultural activities in the Clondalkin area. Áras Chrónáin is also the trustee of Gaelscoil na Camóige and the site and prefabs are owned by Muintir Chrónáin.

The school's enrolment on 30 September 2008 was 228 pupils, an increase of 6%, or 12 pupils, on the September 2007 enrolment. It is the Department's intention to provide Gaelscoil na Camóige with a new building. In this regard, agreement has been reached to provide the new building on a VEC-owned site. The next stage is the appointment of a design team for the project. However, given the competing demands on the Department's capital budget, it is not possible at this stage to be precise about when the design team appointed.

The school authority had contacted the Department regarding the condition of one of the prefabs it is renting. It has been advised that the landlord should provide accommodation of a suitable standard. Last week the school authority contacted the Department outlining proposals for accommodating third and fourth class pupils from September 2009. The Department is in ongoing contact with the school regarding its accommodation needs from September 2009 and is providing advice and assistance.

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 given the funding available under the Department's capital budget. The project for Gaelscoil na Camóige will continue to be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual schools building and modernisation programme.

I thank the Senator for affording me the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the current position regarding the school building project for Gaelscoil na Camóige. I noted the Senator's comments on parents and others and I will forward them to the Minister.