Written answers

Tuesday, 2 October 2007

Department of Education and Science

Departmental Properties

9:00 am

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of post-primary schools in the State owned directly or indirectly by the State; the number of those that having received substantial capital grants for refurbishment or renewal have now contracted to the State in such a way as to prevent them from unilateral disposal by their current owners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21595/07]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As of the 31st December, 2006, there were a total of 733 Post-Primary schools operating in the State. Of these, 91 are Community or Comprehensive Schools which are owned by my Department and 248 are Vocational Schools/Community Colleges that are owned by the relevant Vocational Education Committee. The remainder (394) are Voluntary Secondary Schools, which are privately-owned and primarily run by Religious Orders.

Since 2000 my Department has invested over €3 billion as part of the upgrading of existing school infrastructure and the provision of new school accommodation in primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. This is the largest investment programme in the history of the State and delivered over 9,000 projects which have transformed the standard of accommodation in these schools.

My Department's policy is to protect investment in non State owned property by way of long-term lease agreements. The purpose of these lease agreements is to allow the State to re-coup some or all of its investment in privately-owned school properties in the event that these properties are no longer used for educational purposes. Given the numbers of projects delivered over recent years if the Deputy wishes to clarify the situation in respect of investment in individual cases then I would be happy to provide him with the information.

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