Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 482: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount drawn down through her Department for the Percent for Art scheme in each year since 2002 to date in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5965/08]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 483: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of capital projects funded by her Department in each year since 2002 to date in 2008; the number of cases in which the percent for arts grant was drawn down. [5980/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 and 483 together.

During the period of the last National Development Plan 2000-2006 my Department accelerated the school building programme with record levels of investment and the streamlining of delivery systems. An aggregate total of well over €2.6 billion was invested in upgrading existing school infrastructure and providing new school accommodation at both first and second level. This programme delivered over 7,800 building projects. The overall investment in school building infrastructure over the lifetime of the new NDP will be €4.5 billion, including almost €600 million for the school building programme in 2008. Details of the number of projects funded by my Department at first and second level from 2002 to 2007 are given in the tabular statement that follows this reply. The statistics sought by the Deputy regarding the percent for art scheme are not readily available. However, I assure the Deputy that my Department supports and encourages schools with large-scale school building projects to utilise the scheme.