Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which requirements have been, are being or will be met in respect of extra buildings or other facilities, including psychological, remedial, resource or other special needs requirements in all second level schools throughout County Kildare; the schools requiring attention in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14652/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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When publishing the 2004 school building programme, I outlined that my strategy going forward will be grounded in capital investment based on multi-annual allocations. My officials are reviewing all projects which were not authorised to proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme, with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual school building programme from 2005 and I expect to be in a position to make further announcements on this matter in the course of the year. This multi-annual building programme, when published, will provide a comprehensive picture detailing all planned building projects in the Kildare area.

All second level schools in the free education scheme have an entitlement to an ex-quota teacher allocation in respect of remedial. In addition, all post-primary schools in County Kildare now have access to the National Educational Psychological Service.

My Department also allocates resource teaching support and special needs assistants support to second level schools and vocational educational committees to cater for students with special educational needs. Applications for such support are made to my Department by the relevant school authorities. Each application is considered on the basis of the assessed needs of the pupil(s) involved and the nature and level of support provided is determined on the advice of the National Educational Psychological Service.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which requirements have been, are being or will be met in respect of extra buildings or other facilities, including psychological, remedial, resource or other special needs requirements in all primary schools throughout County Kildare; the schools requiring attention in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14653/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The school planning section of my Department is responsible for planning the provision of suitable cost effective accommodation both in response to applications from school managerial authorities for accommodation and by analysis of changing demographics. All resultant projects whether extensions to existing schools or new schools, including provision for pupils with special needs, are prioritised by reference to published criteria. These criteria are structured to ensure that schools most in need of accommodation are assigned a band 1 priority rating.

The 2004 school building programme, which I published last December, is a further major step in progressing this Government's consistent commitment since 1997 to deal with school accommodation needs. The programme is designed to give the maximum amount of information to managers, boards of management, principals, parents and students and to give assurance that the building programme is being operated in an open and transparent manner. The level of capital funding being provided nationally at primary and post-primary level in 2004 amounts to €388 million, in excess of €200 million of this will be targeted at primary level projects.

The level of capital investment in schools including those providing for special needs pupils, has progressively increased since 1998 to a total of almost €2 billion, the largest investment programme in the history of the State.

A key part of my strategy going forward will be grounded on the budget day announcement of multi-annual allocations for capital investment in education projects covering the years 2004 to 2008. All projects that are not going to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme are being reviewed with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual building programme from 2005 onwards. I expect to be in a position to make a further announcement on this matter during 2004.

The challenge facing my Department is how to ensure the State gets best return on investment in educational infrastructure. New ways such as the devolved building initiative for small rural schools and the permanent accommodation initiative, both initiated in 2003 and expanded this year, show the Department's commitment to find innovative and flexible solutions to the difficulties faced by schools seeking to refurbish their buildings or to provide additional accommodation quickly. These schemes fund schools to respond quickly to accommodation difficulties. There is minimal interaction with my Department and schools are fully empowered to drive the design and construction process. I fully expect that these initiatives will inform future policy.