Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 376: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when will she outline the school building projects to proceed to tender stage and to construction stage in 2008. [34819/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under my Department's School Building and Modernisation Programme there will be close to €600 million available to address first and second level school infrastructure deficits/improvements in 2008. While there will continue to be a focus next year on providing extra places in developing areas, my Department will also be delivering improvements in the quality of existing school accommodation throughout the country. The emphasis however will be on new schools, extensions and major refurbishments, rather than on smaller projects.

I intend to announce in January the first tranche of projects that will be proceeding to construction with further announcements throughout the year as the school building programme is rolled out.

The level of investment in school buildings has never been greater and with €4.5 billion to be invested in this area under the National Development Plan over the next few years, further significant progress will be made.