Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I am happy to respond on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, who, unfortunately, cannot be present. I thank Senators Ó Domhnaill and Doherty 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 the current position in respect of Scoil Chonaill Naofa, Bunbeg, County Donegal, roll number 18219F.

Modernising facilities in our existing building stock and the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth present a significant challenge. The Government has shown a consistent determination to improve the condition of our school buildings and 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 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 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. The original criteria were revised and refined in 2004. 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 there is none currently but where there is a high demand for pupil places, while a band 4 project makes provision for desirable but not necessarily urgent or essential facilities such as a library or new sports hall. The proposed building project for Scoil Chonaill Naofa has been assigned a band 2.1 rating.

All major projects in the Department's capital programme progress through the same structured process of architectural planning which is divided into clearly defined stages. The stages of architectural planning are set out in the Department's design team procedures and are necessary to comply with Department of Finance guidelines which require that capital projects be fully designed prior to going to tender. They also ensure proper cost management of capital projects and facilitate compliance with statutory and publiic procurement requirements.

There are five stages involved in the progression of major school projects through architectural planning. This project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning and has almost completed stage 2(b) of the process. Last year the Minister met a deputation from Scoil Chonaill Naofa. He welcomed the cost saving proposal for decanting pupils which was presented at the meeting and it was subsequently approved by the Department following an inspection of the premises.

In September a letter issued to the chairperson of the board of management, requesting the design team to begin work on revising the stage 2(b) documentation for submission to the Department. These revisions are required in order to ensure the contract is in line with the new Government construction contracts committee, GCCC, forms of contract. Representatives from the board of management of Scoil Chonaill Naofa and their design team attended a briefing in the Department's offices in Tullamore on 26 November. The briefing was held for a number of schools at a similar stage of the architectural planning process to fully explain what was required in revising tender documentation to take account of the requirements of the new forms of contract. Subsequently, in December, a revised stage 2(b) submission, including comprehensive tender documentation, was received by the Department and is being considered. The Department will revert directly to the school when that consideration is complete.

The Minister is reviewing the Department's school building and modernisation programme with his officials in the context of the allocation for 2010. The project for Scoil Chonaill Naofa forms part of that review. The Minister has indicated that he intends to make a further announcement on the school building programme when that review has been completed.

I again thank the Senators for giving me the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the current position on the school building project for Scoil Chonaill Naofa, Bunbeg.