Written answers

Tuesday, 28 November 2006

Department of Education and Science

Schools Building Projects

10:00 am

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the arrangements in place, in view of the need for a local contribution or ongoing local contributions towards the capital cost of school buildings and that many of these are located in areas where new community and social facilities must also be provided for from local fundraising between her Department and other Government Departments, to assess the ability of new communities to provide for both; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39899/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Most new schools in developing areas are provided on sites purchased by my Department. In such cases there is no local contribution required. In relation to refurbishments and extensions to existing school buildings the full cost is typically paid for by my Department except for a local contribution of up to €31,500 or up to €12,500 for disadvantaged or special schools.

My Department's primary remit is to ensure that there are sufficient pupil places available to accommodate the demand. However, the School Planning Section of my Department is working proactively with local authorities to explore the possibility of the development of school provision in tandem with the development of community facilities. This enhanced co-operation has the effect of minimising the Department's land requirements and thus reducing site costs while at the same time providing local communities with new schools with enhanced facilities.

My Department recently entered into a partnership approach with Fingal County Council to ensure that new schools can be provided to match the rapid pace of housing development in that area while at the same time providing important facilities for the community.

Under the terms of the agreement and based on the school planning projections of the Department, Fingal County Council will identify and acquire appropriate sites where schools with enhanced sporting, community and arts facilities will be built to the benefit of both the school and the wider community. It is hoped that this agreement will help to fast-track the delivery of schools and community facilities throughout Fingal.

A further example is in the case of the Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) at Adamstown, Lucan where the Department is working closely with South Dublin County Council and the developers to produce an integrated solution to education and community facilities that matches the delivery of new housing. Under the SDZ arrangements there is a requirement that schools are in position ahead of or in line with demand, and I think that this is an approach that should be adopted by other planning authorities in relation to major new housing schemes.

Photo of Jim O'KeeffeJim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of school building projects assessed as being of Band One priority awaiting progression by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40238/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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This Government is determined to ensure that every child is educated in a suitable and comfortable environment. Since 1997, great advances have been made in transforming school accommodation throughout the country, through an investment of €3 billion. This has funded over 7,800 individual school projects in the last seven years alone.

This year we are spending €500 million on school buildings, compared to just over €90 million in 1997.

Under the 2006 Budget €3.9 billion is being provided over the five years 2006-2010 for capital projects at all levels of the education sector from primary to third level.

While the challenge before us in reversing decades of under-investment in school buildings and in responding to emerging needs in new population areas is great, nonetheless we are making huge progress.

The level of work being done under the School Building Programme is at an all-time high. While increased investment has been a central reason for this, the introduction of new schemes and changes in how projects are managed have also made a major difference.

Almost 800 were approved for Summer Works projects this year. This innovative scheme, which allows schools to get small projects done over the Summer holidays, did not exist when we came into office and schools were waiting for very many years for improvements such as rewiring, or new roofs or windows. Now when the school gates close for the Summer, the builders move in and the students come back to an improved environment just a few short months later.

To reduce red tape and allow projects to move faster, responsibility for smaller projects has been devolved to school level. Standard designs have also been developed for 8 and 16 classroom schools to facilitate speedier delivery of projects and save on design fees.

Improvements have also been made in forward-planning through greater co-operation with local authorities and the publication of Area Development Plans.

In relation to the school building projects awaiting progression, the Deputy will be aware that the number of projects and their individual classifications can vary according to the stage of assessment and their progression through the building programme.

At present, my Department has in the region of 1,300 applications for building works on the main building programme. These applications can range from extensions and refurbishments to applications for new schools on new sites. Their status can range from applications recently received in the Department to projects at various stages of architectural planning.

These projects are assessed and prioritised in accordance with the prioritisation criteria agreed with the Education Partners. In this regard, it should be noted that a project's banding, or classification, can be subject to reassessment having regard to demographic developments in the area served by the school and also, for example, if on foot of a technical examination of the school it was found that the proposed project put forward by the school was not an appropriate design solution to meet the accommodation requirements.

In addition to the projects above, there are also approximately 400 applications under the Small Schools Initiative and the Permanent Accommodation Scheme — many of these may also have applied under the main programme. These applications are currently being assessed with a view to an announcement being made shortly. In addition, 1,300 applications for the Summer Works Scheme 2007 are also currently being evaluated.

The €3.9 billion envelope provided for education capital in the 2006 budget means that huge progress will continue to be made on school buildings in the coming years. This year alone over 1,300 building projects will be delivered.

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