Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, to the House.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Cuirim céad fáilte ar ais roimh an Aire óna chuid taistil ar fad. Tá mé ag árdú ceiste a thagann chun cinn ó am go ham agus tá mé ag iarraidh a bheith roimh rudaí i mbliana seachas a bheith tar éis rudaí. Gach bliain, le roinnt mhaith blianta anuas, cloistear fógra ón Rialtas a rá nach raibh an buiséad caipitil caite maidir le tógáil scoileanna. Tá súil agam nach é sin an scéal a bhéas an i mbliana. Tá mé cinnte, ó na geallúintí a thug an Rialtas nach é, mar go bhfuil airgead gann.

I am raising an issue pertinent to the schools building programme. The Minister might agree that over the past number of years we would hear from the Department of Education and Skills that there has been an underspend in the capital programme, with moneys not fully drawn down for different reasons. Projects may be held up, stalled or experience problems with planning permission. In these times of fiscal constraint we do not want to be in a similar position at the end of this year. I am asking the Minister for information regarding the capital build programme to date for this year and if it can be compared with 2008 to 2011, inclusive. Where do we stand as we are half way through the year? My understanding is that we are approximately a third of the way through the budget. Any good accountant would consider the projects and how many will come to fruition, along with any technical or other difficulties with other projects. That person may also consider if there is a plan B to ensure the money allocated to capital building will be spent by the end of the year.

It is particularly important this year, as there has been much controversy over the capital build programme, with many schools left out of it. We welcome that a number of schools are still in it, and it is important from the perspective of creating employment and providing proper accommodation for school children that we have a capital programme. It would totally unacceptable if we got to the end of the year and the Department told us all the money had not been spent. There are many worthy projects out there, and I would add the likes of Clifden community school in Connemara or Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh in Galway, as well as a number of other schools that we could all mention from our own constituencies. These projects are almost shovel-ready, at stage 2B of the planning process, and could proceed if allowed to go to tender.

What is plan B? If there is a likelihood that a number of the projects might fall by the wayside or behind schedule, with some funding remaining unspent, is there an alternative plan? Would the Department allow some of the schools that are just off the list to go to the tender process and talk to builders? If they have tenders ready, they should be given the go-ahead to start building, although we know money is tight and that it is important to manage budgets well.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus tá mé ag súil go mór leis an bhfreagra atá aige agus tá súil agam go mbeidh freagra dearfach aige dúinn anocht.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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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.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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I asked for a breakdown project by project, but it was not available. Perhaps I might receive it by email when it is available.

I note that all school building projects will continue to be advanced incrementally over time within the context of the funding available. For the projects about which I am talking substantial funds have been collected locally. They would be willing to agree to tender documents if the Department gave permission to do so. Perhaps the Minister might ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school such as Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh which has money in its coffers and could go to tender, without prejudice to the capital moneys available, can be given permission to do so. If any of the projects was to fall behind, the school would at least be in a position to follow through in the future.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I note the Senator's comments. There might be opportunities to provide further funding to be made available for some projects, particularly the shovel ready projects the Senator outlined, in the context of a stimulus package that might emerge in due course.