Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 400: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average cost of the new school buildings, broken down by new primary and post-primary, approved in early 2008 in the latest large-scale building projects programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17290/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 401: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will categorise by project band rating, the applications approved in early 2008 in the latest large-scale building projects programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17291/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 400 and 401 together.

Some 13 new primary school buildings are included in list A of the announcement, made on 1 February last, of large-scale projects to progress to construction. The average cost per school building will be in the region of €4.687 million. Two new post-primary school buildings were included also at an average cost of €14.3 million. Nine of the schools — seven primary and two post-primary — were rated at Band 1 with the remainder of the schools having a Band 2 rating. The banding system was introduced following agreement with the Education Partners in 2004. The banding system is briefly set out as follows:

Band 1 — Projects serving rapidly developing areas, schools with special needs requirements, rationalisation projects.

Band 2 — Projects dealing with deficits of mainstream accommodation. It is not uncommon, given current demographic trends, for projects in this category to move from minor projects to more substantial projects.

Band 3 — Projects concerned with ancillary accommodation — that is projects where there is no deficit of mainstream accommodation.

Band 4 — Desirable but not urgent or essential.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 402: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will estimate the capital cost of approving all outstanding applications for large scale school building projects assigned a project band rating of one to three; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17292/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 403: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will estimate the capital cost of approving all outstanding applications for large scale school building projects assigned a project band rating of one to four; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17293/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 402 and 403 together.

Major school building projects are selected for inclusion in the School Building and Modernisation Programme on the basis of priority of need using published criteria. The banding system was introduced following agreement with the Education Partners in 2004. Applications can range from extensions and refurbishments to applications for new schools on new sites. 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. The banding system can be broadly set out as follows:

Band 1 — Projects serving rapidly developing areas, schools with special needs requirements, rationalisation projects.

Band 2 — Projects dealing with deficits of mainstream accommodation. It is not uncommon, given current demographic trends, for projects in this category to move from minor projects to more substantial projects.

Band 3 — Projects concerned with ancillary accommodation — that is projects where there is no deficit of mainstream accommodation.

Band 4 — Desirable but not urgent or essential.

It would not be realistic to try to estimate the potential cost of all building projects on hand in my Department. A variety of factors can affect the final cost of a project. Site size/conditions, demographic trends, technical assessment of the existing buildings etc., requirement for new buildings, extension to existing schools or refurbishment of existing schools will all affect the cost of the various projects, as will the trend in building costs in the broader economy. Ultimately, it is only when a project has been tendered that an accurate cost becomes available.