Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 642: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on expanding the devolved grant scheme to allow this scheme to provide entire new school buildings in order to avoid excessive costs and time delays in design, consultancy and procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22644/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The two Devolved Schemes, the Small Schools Scheme and the Permanent Accommodation Scheme, were originally introduced on a pilot basis for 38 schools in 2003. Due to the positive feedback from schools, they were extended to cover 699 more schools between the years of 2004 and 2007. The purpose of these devolved schemes are to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake refurbishment of existing buildings and/or smaller extensions which will address the school's long term accommodation needs.

Under the terms of the Schemes, school authorities are empowered to manage these works with detailed guidance from, and minimal interaction with, the Department. Devolving funding to school management authorities allows them to have control of their projects, assists in moving projects more quickly to tender and construction and can also deliver better value for money. Nevertheless, schools are required to meet all design, consultancy and procurement procedures as laid out in my Departments guidelines. The projects approved for funding under the devolved schemes generally relate to smaller school buildings. It is not considered that the schemes would be suitable for complex major projects such as complete new school buildings.