Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I wish to thank the Senator for raising the matter, as it provides me with an opportunity to clarify the current position in relation to the application for a new school for Eureka secondary school, Kells, County Meath, and an extension to the O'Carolan college in Nobber, County Meath.

The Senator may find it helpful if I set out the context within which decisions relating to meeting the accommodation needs of schools must be considered over the coming years. Total enrolment is expected to grow by around 70,000 students between now and 2018 - that is, by over 45,000 at primary level and 25,000 at post primary. Second-level enrolment is expected to continue to rise until at least 2024.

In order to meet the needs of our growing population of school-going children, the Department must establish new schools as well as extending or replacing a number of existing schools in areas where demographic growth has been identified. The delivery of these new schools, together with extension projects to meet future demand, will be the main focus of the Department's budget for the coming years.

The five-year programme which I announced on Monday last, will provide over 100,000 permanent school places, of which over 80,000 will be new school places - many in existing schools which have got whole new school buildings. The remainder will be the replacement of temporary or unsatisfactory accommodation. Last week, I announced €35 million to go to that particular replacement of prefabs.

In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet the demographic demands nationally, will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The five-year programme is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that context, it was not possible to advance all applications for capital funding concurrently.

In the case of the Eureka secondary school in Kells, the brief for the project is to provide a new school for a long-term enrolment of 800 pupils. The current enrolment at the school is 738. The next step will be the tender process for the appointment of a design team.

With regard to O'Carolan college, the brief is to provide an extension and refurbishment to cater for an enrolment of at least 500 pupils. The current enrolment in the school is just over 500. The process of appointing a design team for the extension project is now almost complete. In other words, both schools are still in the process.

School building projects in architectural planning, including the new school project for Eureka in Kells, and the extension project for O'Carolan college in Nobber, will continue to be advanced incrementally over time within the context of the funding available. However, in light of current competing demands on the Department's capital budget, it is not possible at this time to give an indicative timeframe for the progression to tender and construction of the projects.

I wish to thank the Senator again for having raised this matter.