Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the level of support given by her Department for building and refurbishment works at secondary, community, comprehensive and vocational schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13724/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Support and investment for building and refurbishment works in schools is at record levels. Between 1998 and 2004 almost €2 billion has been spent on educational infrastructures comprising approximately 7,500 individual projects. At post-primary level, this has delivered 46 new schools, over 160 large scale refurbishments or extensions and over 850 smaller scale projects as well as site acquisitions and the provision and upgrading of furniture and equipment in schools.

Under the 2005 schools building and modernisation programme a further €493 million has been made available, of which €223 million is being allocated for the post-primary programme.

I have announced the first phases of the 2005 schools building and modernisation programme which provided details of: 122 major school building projects country wide, including 33 post-primary school projects, which will prepare tenders and move to construction during the next 12 to 15 months; 43 schools, of which 11 are post-primary schools, that will be authorised to commence architectural planning; and 590 schools approved for funding under the 2005 summer works scheme, 228 of which are post-primary schools; 124 schools, of which 51 are post-primary schools, whose projects will further progress through the design process.

I plan to make a further announcement regarding the 2005 schools building and modernisation programme that will include details of projects identified as suitable for construction under public private partnerships.