Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 640: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will consider funding for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26722/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Among the priority funding measures approved for support in 2006/2007 under the Educational Disadvantage category of the Dormant Account Fund and the RAPID Leverage Fund was a scheme focusing on educational infrastructure in disadvantaged schools. Eligibility for the scheme was restricted to primary and post primary schools participating in my Department's DEIS programme; schools in, or serving, RAPID areas; and special schools.

The scheme consists of four measures and a number of sub-measures. The four measures are: Outdoor Play Facilities; Libraries; Parent Rooms; and Dining Areas and Canteen Equipment. Schools were allowed to submit prioritised proposals under each of the measures. A total of €24.5 million has been made available to fund the scheme. All four measures of the scheme were heavily oversubscribed.

The school referred to by the Deputy submitted three prioritised proposals; Priority 1 Library Enhancement, Priority 2 Dining Area Enhancement and Priority 3 Outdoor Play Facilities. The school was successful in securing a grant under the Outdoor Play Facilities measure and has been recommended for funding under the Dining Area and Canteen Equipment measure. However, the school was not successful in securing funding for its library enhancement proposal. My officials recently wrote to the school to advise them that their library enhancement proposal was not successful. The position, in essence, is that all of the Priority 1 library enhancement proposals received were assessed and ranked in accordance with the criteria for the scheme. However, there was insufficient funding available to fund all of the Priority 1 proposals.

The position relating to the Dining Area and Canteen Equipment projects, including the proposal from the school in question, is under consideration and my Department will be in contact with the school authorities as soon as a decision has been taken.