Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan.

I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current position on the major capital project for Gaelscoil Philip Barún, Tramore, County Waterford. The Senator will be aware of the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years. Primary enrolments, which have already risen substantially in recent years, are projected to rise by over 36,000 pupils by 2016 and they are set to continue to rise, with a likely peak at around 574,000 pupils to be catered for in 2018. This compares with some 526,422 pupils enrolled in primary schools for the 2012-13 school year. It is vital, therefore, that there is sufficient school accommodation to cope with these pupil enrolments.

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.

While the Department would seek to provide additional accommodation to meet demographic growth, it would also aim to ensure maximum use of existing school accommodation. A priority, therefore, for the Department is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places.

The school building project for Gaelscoil Philip Barún comprises a new eight classroom school with ancillary accommodation. The project is at an advanced stage of the architectural planning process and the stage 2(b) submission was recently approved by the Department. This was confirmed to the school by letter on 25 September last. It was explained to the school that due to competing demands on the Department's capital budget, it is not possible to authorise the project to proceed to tender at this time. However, the project for Gaelscoil Philip Barún is now well placed to progress to tender and construction in the event that further funding becomes available to the Department in the future.

The Senator also referred to the restoration of the minor works grant. The Senator will be aware that the focus under the infrastructure and capital investment programme 2012-16 is on meeting the demand for additional school places. Consequently, there is no funding provided at this time in the 2014 capital allocation for the payment of a minor works grant. Circular letter 0062/2013, which accompanied the publication of the minor works grant scheme last November, advised that the grant will be paid in future years only as funding permits. The Minister is very interested in this matter and has spoken about it on several occasions.

I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current position on the matters raised.