Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for Agriculture and Food for being here to represent the Minister for Education and Science. Davis College in Mallow, County Cork, is a newly-built second level school with approximately 400 pupils. When the new campus was built almost four years ago, the principal, staff and students looked forward to a bright future in their new premises. The old Davis College has been in Mallow for many decades and is a well respected school.

The disappointing aspect of the new development for staff and pupils is the lack of playing facilities. County Cork VEC, which operates the school, purchased sufficient land to provide such facilities with the result that a landbank now adjoins the school building. Mallow is one of the towns accorded hub status by the Government and it is important that a second level school of the scale of Davis College should have proper recreational facilities. County Cork VEC has received many representations from staff, students and parents on this matter. County Cork VEC has now written formally to the Minister for Education and Science requesting that funding be made available to provide the playing facilities. I believe approximately €350,000 would be required. Given that the Department has already sanctioned the purchase of land, built a new school and put in place fine facilities, it is disappointing that playing facilities have not been provided. Given that the land is available, I ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food to liaise with the Minister for Education and Science to ensure that adequate recreational facilities, including a football and hurling pitch, are put in place for the approximately 400 pupils in the school. Early progress is required.

Last week, in the wake of the difficulties on St. Patrick's Day, we had a debate on what happens when young people do not have enough sports and recreational facilities. We should begin to address this in our secondary schools by ensuring that children have such facilities. The facilities that exist at Davis College, Mallow, are insufficient. A playing pitch is required and I ask the Minister to make progress in this regard as soon as possible.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senator for raising this issue. As he has indicated Davis College is a coeducational vocational school under the aegis of County Cork VEC. It has a current enrolment of 565 pupils, including 361 mainstream pupils and 204 PLC pupils. The school is located in a recently completed new building which cost in excess of €4.5 million.

An application under the 2004 summer works scheme, made by County Cork VEC, sought funding towards improved playing pitch facilities at Davis College. All applications under the scheme were considered and, in the context of available funding for the scheme and the number of applications received for that funding, it was not possible to approve all applications including the application from Davis College.

An application from the VEC under this year's summer works scheme sought funding for the upgrade of the electrical system at the college. This was in line with the advice to applicants to apply for one project only so that funding could be spread over as many schools as possible. I am pleased to inform the Senator this application was successful and the VEC has recently been informed that grant aid of €187,000 has been allocated for this work. As the funding available under the 2005 summer works scheme, amounting to over €62 million, has been allocated, it is not possible to consider any further applications in the current year. It is, of course, open to the school's management authority to apply for funding for the project under the 2006 summer works scheme, details of which will be published later in the year.

I assure the Senator that the Government has never underestimated the scale of the task and the level of capital funding and other resources required to rectify decades of underinvestment in school infrastructure. The budget day announcement regarding multi-annual capital envelopes will enable the Department of Education and Science to adopt a multi-annual framework for the schools building programme. The Department is confident this will allow it to make significant and visible inroads into our educational infrastructure deficits.

I appreciate that the Senator has raised a very important issue. I suppose he inadvertently thanked the Minister for the money Davis College did receive. I am sure he will have the opportunity next year to pursue further the necessary funding, perhaps under the 2006 summer works scheme. The school's authorities will be able to apply under this scheme at the end of this year.

Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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I appreciate that the Minister does not have line responsibility for education but she might know whether the summer works scheme is the only option available in the search for funding. Following a meeting of CountyCork VEC last week, a letter was issued to the Department. The summer works scheme is not normally regarded as the appropriate vehicle for obtaining the funding required. It would have been far preferable had the whole package been delivered when the school was first built. Perhaps the Minister will ask the Minister for Education and Science to liaise with me on this issue.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am not sure about all the idiosyncrasies in this area but perhaps something could be done through the national lottery if the facilities are to be made available at a community level.

Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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We are considering that option.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for Education and Science is currently under pressure in respect of school playing fields and PE halls because she is trying to address the basic infrastructural needs of all the colleges and schools. Perhaps the Senator could talk to his colleague from the south of Ireland, who might be able to facilitate him.