Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it affords me an opportunity to outline to the House the current position on the schools capital building programme to date in 2012.

The capital allocation available in 2012 under subhead F01 for primary and post-primary schools amounts to €357 million, of which almost €149 million has been expended to date. This level of expenditure at the halfway point of the year is over €12 million ahead of the profiled expenditure to the end of June. In percentage terms, expenditure has reached 42% of the 2012 allocation and this compares with an expenditure level at the end of the equivalent month in 2011 of 34%, in 2010 of 18%, in 2009 of 23% and in 2008 of 50%.

The expenditure incurred to date on the various sub-programmes that constitute the overall capital programme is as follows: on large-scale projects, €104.7 million; site acquisition, €7.4 million; additional accommodation, €20.7 million; emergency works - €3.3 million; pre-2012 schemes - summer works, jobs initiated, etc. - €9.5 million; furniture and equipment, €1.4 million; and miscellaneous items, €1.7 million. The expenditure on large-scale projects which stands at almost €105 million will continue throughout the second half of the year. I can inform the Senator that there are 61 large-scale projects on site , while 11 have reached substantial completion so far this year. In addition, the Senator can be assured that in the months ahead further projects will also advance to construction and incur expenditure.

In view of the need to ensure every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The five year programme announced in March is focused on meeting these demographic needs. All school building projects will continue to be advanced incrementally over time within the context of the funding available. Schools which have not been included in the five year construction programme but which were announced for initial inclusion in the building programme will continue to have their projects progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to the Department in future years.

The Minister for Education and Skills is satisfied that the capital expenditure on schools to date in 2012 is performing ahead of expectations. At the beginning of 2012 a total of 60 major large school projects were under construction and last December details of a further 56 major school projects that were planned to advance to construction in 2012 were announced. Already 17 of these projects have commenced on site, while a further eight constitute schools bundle 3 under the PPP programme and will not incur expenditure in the subhead until completed. With 31 major school projects still to advance to construction in 2012, there are sufficient projects positioned to incur expenditure throughout the remaining months of the year.