Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps she intends to take to upgrade primary schools in County Westmeath and County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23178/06]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps she intends to take to upgrade secondary schools in County Westmeath and County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23179/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together.

This Government has invested in the largest school building programme in the history of the State. Between 2000 and the end of 2005, over €2 billion was invested in school buildings and in the region of 7,500 large and small projects were completed in schools — including 130 brand new schools and 510 large scale refurbishments/ extensions. In 2006, over €500 million will be spent on school building projects. Since 2005 almost €4 million has been approved under the Summer Works Scheme for 40 individual school projects in Longford and Westmeath.

The Deputy will be aware that earlier this year I announced 19 medium scale post primary building projects of which three are from Counties Longford and Westmeath. I have approved 11 projects to commence architectural planning, 11 to tender and construction and 18 projects under the devolved schemes since 2005 between both these counties.

Any applications received from primary and post primary schools in Counties Westmeath and Longford will be assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects. Progress on the proposed works will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme from 2006 onwards.