Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the action she is taking to upgrade schools in County Roscommon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12747/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for capital funding for schools are assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which was revised following consultation with the education partners. I have now announced the first phases of the 2005 schools building and modernisation programme which provided details of: 122 major school building projects country wide, including 89 primary school projects, which will prepare tenders and move to construction during the next 12 to 15 months; an additional 171 in the number of primary schools that will be invited to deliver their building projects on the basis of devolved funding; 43 schools, of which 32 are primary schools, that will be authorised to commence architectural planning; 590 schools approved for funding under the 2005 summer works scheme, more than 360 of which are primary schools; 124 schools, of which 73 are primary schools, whose projects will further progress through the design process.

In addition, approximately €18 million in respect of all primary schools will be issued under the devolved grant to enable schools to carry out minor works. Each primary school gets a standard rate of €3,809 together with a per pupil rate of €12.70. I plan to make a further announcement in the coming period regarding the 2005 schools building and modernisation programme that will include details of projects identified as suitable for construction under public private partnerships.

In addition to the three building projects currently under construction in County Roscommon, funding for a further nine projects is included in my recent announcements.