Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent of primary and second level accommodation requirements currently evident or expected throughout County Kildare; the extent to which it is intended to meet these requirements in full or in part in the short to medium term; the degree to which class size reductions are expected to take place in tandem with the provision of extra accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26561/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the degree to which his Department has examined primary and second level school accommodation requirements at Clane, County Kildare; the extent to which this includes class size reduction in accordance with indications given previously; his proposals to meet such commitments in full or in part in the short or medium term; the extent of the proposals to meet such requirements at this juncture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26562/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which he has evaluated the primary and second level school needs at Leixlip, County Kildare with particular reference to the need to provide extra facilities and reduce class sizes in accordance with commitments made in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26564/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 182, 183 and 185 together.

The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in any given area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places. This approach ensures that the use of existing accommodation is maximised and that the development and support of one school over others does not occur.

As part of the Programme for Government, a Developing Areas Unit was set up recently in the 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 of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country.

In addition Forward Planning Section of the Department is in the process of identifying the areas where significant additional accommodation will be required at primary and post-primary level for 2009 and onwards including the areas referred to by the Deputy.

Factors under consideration include population growth, demographic trends, current and projected enrolments, recent and planned housing developments and capacity of existing schools to meet demand for places. Having considered these factors decisions will be taken on the means by which emerging needs will be met within an area.

The Programme for Government sets out the overarching policy position in relation to the provision of additional teachers and on reductions in class size over the life of the Government.

The Programme contains a commitment to increase the number of primary teachers by at least 4000 and on that basis to make further progress on reducing class sizes.

Budget 2008 provided my Department with €4.6 billion or €380 million extra for teacher pay and pensions. This was a very substantial level of additional investment in the terms of the economic environment on which the budget was based. That allocation provides for paying for over 2000 extra primary teachers more than the number in schools when the Government took office last Summer. It covers the additional teachers that went into schools last September for the previously announced reduction to a 27 to 1 based staffing schedule along with additional teachers this school year and in the coming school year to meet increasing enrolments, to provide for special needs and the language requirements of newcomer children.

This means that in terms of the overall commitment to provide at least 4000 additional teachers the Government in its first two years in office will be well ahead of target.

All Programme for Government commitments to improve public services including those relating to class size are contingent on the economic and budgetary environment and the need for prudent expenditure and fiscal management. Even since the presentation of Budget 2008 last December there have been significant alterations in the external and domestic environment. In that context any reasonable observer would regard the fact that the Government has already taken measures that will see the allocation of over 2000 additional teachers to primary schools as a considerable investment all things considered.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which he has examined the primary and second level school needs in terms of accommodation and class size reduction at Kilcock, County Kildare; the extent to which it is expected to meet these requirements in full or in part in 2008; the extra accommodation intended; when this is expected to become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26563/08]

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 recently in my Department to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas, including Kilcock. The main emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in these developing areas, as well as delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country.

In this context, the status of all schools in these centres is being assessed as part of an overall delivery plan, which is currently being formulated within the Developing Areas Unit. As is the case with all large capital projects currently on hand within the Unit, their progression will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Question No. 185 answered with Question No. 182.