Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1058: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the conditions in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Galway, such as crumbling windows covered in bird wire to prevent the children from breaking glass and dangerous fungus growing on the walls which forced the closure of the school for several days and leaking prefabs with poor insulation; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the Health and Safety Authority has issued an improvement order on the school, the deadline for which has passed; if he will visit the school to see the conditions for himself; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11216/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school building was received in April of last year from the school referred to by the Deputy. This was the first such application from the school. The school, which has a current enrolment of 49 pupils, is situated in a rural area.

On foot of this application and information supplied by the school regarding its condition, officials from the Planning and Building Unit of my Department visited the school in June of last year. As a result of the visit, an amount of €26,862 was sanctioned to carry out remedial works to the school.

A member of the Inspectorate and officials from my Department's Building Unit visited the school on 11 December last. Since then my Department has been in ongoing contact with the school regarding its needs with a view to carrying out some urgently required works as soon as possible.

In light of the many competing demands on the capital budget of my Department, it is not possible to give any commitment relating to the provision of a new building for this school at this time.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1059: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools in each year over the past three years that have progressed to architectural planning stage. [11233/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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There were 40 major school projects for which design teams were appointed in 2006 to commence architectural planning. A further 14 design teams were appointed on major projects in 2007 and another 2 design teams were appointed in 2008.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department, in accordance with the commitment in the Programme for Government established a Developing Areas Unit to identify where new schools were needed and ensure that they were delivered in the fastest possible timeframe.

This fast-track approach which, instead of the appointment of traditional design teams, involved the recruitment of Project Managers, with the assistance, where required, of architects, engineers and quantity surveyors to prepare the planning applications, undertake the necessary surveys and oversee the delivery of the schools through a combined design and build process, commenced in late 2007.

These two approaches, the traditional and the fast-track, delivered 48 new primary schools and 3 new post-primary schools in 2008. In addition, 29 major primary school extension and refurbishment projects and the 15 major post-primary extension and refurbishment projects were completed in 2008.

Taken together, the completion of these major projects reflect the concentration by my Department in 2008 on providing sufficient school places in developing areas, while also delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country and represent an unprecedented level of achievement.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1060: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the final costs of each school that completed stage five in 2008; the number of pupils in each school; and the location of same. [11234/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The following table lists the record number of major projects which were progressed to practical completion in 2008. The list includes 48 new primary schools and 3 new post-primary schools, together with 29 major primary school extension/refurbishment projects and 15 major post-primary extension/refurbishment projects. It also shows the enrolment in each school for the 2008/2009 school year.

Practical completion is reached when a project is certified as having been completed in accordance with the project brief and specifications and is ready for occupation, but, where a Final Account is not yet agreed.

Following practical completion, there is a 12 month period during which any snags have to be identified and made good by the building contractor. A Final Account for each project is agreed after this period.

The Final Accounts for the projects that reached practical completion in 2008 have not yet been agreed so I cannot give you the individual final costs for these projects. However, I can tell you that just over €300m has been spent on the construction of the 95 projects.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 1061: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a primary school building project (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11250/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The proposed building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is currently awaiting the appointment of a Design Team. The Deputy will be aware that on 12 February, 2009, I announced details of 25 high priority projects to commence architectural planning. The project for the school in question was not included in this announcement. Therefore, it will not be proceeding this year. However, the project will be considered for progression under my Department's capital programme for 2010.