Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 493: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the projects which have been subjected to detailed cost benefit appraisal in the past six months; the benefit cost ratio which emerged from this test; if she has satisfied herself that projects being selected not only pass this test but represent a better return than competing uses for the same limited funds; and the way in which this process influences the size of the capital envelope for different project areas. [37357/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to large scale primary and post primary school projects.

As he will be aware, earlier this year the Department of Finance published capital appraisal guidelines relating to the need to undertake formal structured auditable assessments of new capital projects as follows: Value of project needed. If less than €500,000, a simple assessment; if between €500,000 and €5 million, a single assessment; if between €5 million and €30 million, a multi-criteria assessment, MCA; and if over €30 million, full cost benefit analysis. As no school capital project generally exceeds €30 million, full cost benefit analyses are not routinely carried out.

However, my Department is obliged at all times to provide a suitable cost-effective accommodation solution for the delivery of every school building project. Therefore, every application for capital funding is subject to a rigorous assessment of the absolute need for the project in the first instance. Once need has been established, an examination of the most cost effective method of delivering the project is then carried out. This examination is underpinned by a technical and professional report.

All approved projects are then further subject to my Department's published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects which were revised last year following consultation with the education partners. In applying the prioritisation criteria, all approved projects are assigned a band rating and the progress of individual projects is considered on a top down basis in accordance with its band rating. I am satisfied that overall, the processes undertaken by my Department ensure that value for money solutions are achieved and that these solutions are delivered in accordance with the most urgent needs presenting.