Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of applications with her Department for the provision of new schools or extensions to existing schools or for the provision of portacabins in County Kildare on her building programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35995/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The information required by the deputy is not readily available and would take an inordinate amount of administrative time to prepare.

The Deputy will be aware that meeting the needs of developing areas such as those in Kildare is a major priority for this government. To that end, we have invested more than €110 million in the School Building Programme in Kildare.

This record level of investment has provided for new schools in areas such as Celbridge, Killashee, and Naas. Major refurbishment works have also been carried out in schools in Kilcock, Leixlip, Newbridge and Sallins. There are a number of schools in Kildare at various stages of architectural planning at present, including schools in Castledermot, Maynooth, and Kilcock.

€1.9 million was allocated to 25 schools in the Kildare area under the Summer Works Scheme in 2006 — 16 primary and 9 post-primary schools. Successful applications for my Summer Works Scheme 2007 will be announced shortly.

I assure the Deputy that this government will continue to prioritise the needs of developing areas such as those in Kildare.