John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 445: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the action he is taking to upgrade primary schools in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21383/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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In Mayo, at the moment, a major project involving two special schools is nearing completion. The new building should be ready for occupation by September of this year. Two other major primary school projects reached completion in 2008 and a further twelve major projects have been completed since 2002. There are three other major primary school projects currently progressing through architectural planning, one of which was included in my announcement of February last to proceed to tender and construction. This latter project has recently been advertised for prequalification of contractors on the Governments e-tenders web-site and the closing date for expressions of interest by suitably qualified contractors is the 28th of this month. Details on these schools are contained in the following tabular statement.

In recent years, my Department has adopted a policy of devolving much greater authority to local school management authorities to manage and deliver smaller building projects in their schools. This has allowed officials in my Department to concentrate on delivering larger scale projects, while also ensuring that the school authorities can use their local knowledge to manage projects efficiently. Overall, the use of such devolved schemes has resulted in cost efficient and effective delivery of minor projects in schools.

The devolved Small Schools Scheme and the Permanent Accommodation Scheme, were introduced in 2003. The purpose of the Schemes was to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake smaller scale building works such as refurbishment of existing buildings/provision of small extensions with guaranteed funding. Under the terms of the Schemes, school authorities were empowered to manage these works with guidance from and minimal interaction with the Department.

Since the introduction of these schemes, 44 primary schools in Mayo have been approved funding for capital works under the SSS and PAS.

The Summer Works Scheme was introduced in 2004 with the purpose of devolving funding to primary and post-primary school to carry out works to school buildings with minimum interaction with the Department. As part of the Summer Works Scheme for 2009, 35 projects have been approved in 24 primary schools in County Mayo.

It is also open to schools to claim grant-aid from my Department under the Emergency Works Fund. Grants from this fund are available for very urgent unforeseen works, primarily of a major health and safety nature, to schools that are in most need of resources for capital works. Since January 2008, ten primary schools in County Mayo have been sanctioned funding under the Emergency Works Fund.

Primary school authorities may use their annual minor works grant to deal with small scale projects. The Minor Works Grant, which increased by 44% in 2006, provides school authorities with the funds to carry out ongoing repairs and maintenance work of a minor nature on school buildings. It allows the school to prioritise how the money is spent on their schools, again using their local knowledge.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 446: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount which has been spent on the schools building programme in each county for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21384/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The amount spent in capital funding to primary and post-primary schools in each county for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008 is contained in the table.