Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the decision to refuse additional funding to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare on foot of his response to Parliamentary Question No. 250 of 21 May 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26547/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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In 2007 the school in question received approval to build additional classrooms under the devolved Permanent Accommodation Scheme (PAS).

The purpose of the PAS is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake building works which will address the school's long term accommodation needs. Under the terms of the Scheme, school authorities are empowered to manage these works with 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.

The scheme is not intended to leave schools with significant fund-raising needs; rather the terms of the Scheme require the schools to tailor the scope of capital works commissioned to the available funding. The decision on whether to continue participating in the scheme or to drop out, if the scope of build is more than the funding envelope permits, is a matter for each school authority.

The Board of Management submitted an appeal for additional funding. Following assessment of the application from this school and in light of the large number of projects seeking funding from my Department from the budget allocated and in line with the original intention of the scheme, unfortunately, it was not possible to provide additional funding on this occasion.

They were advised to use the grant to achieve the maximum accommodation possible taking into consideration the extra cost which has arisen. In the current economic climate and with considerable demands on the capital budget of my Department, it is not possible to approve such significant increases in the amounts grant aided to schools. It is the responsibility of the school authorities to manage the resources allocated to them to ensure maximum value for money and to control costs.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which it is expected his Department will respond to meet the classroom accommodation needs at primary and second level schools here and in respect of which pre-election commitments were made in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26549/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the Programme for Government, a Developing Areas Unit was set up in my Department to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas. The main emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in these developing areas, as well as delivering improvements in the quality and extent of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country.

In this context, my Department has assessed the needs in these areas and additional accommodation is being delivered to meet those needs for the 2008/2009 school year. 26 new school buildings are being provided in these areas.