John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 449: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of school secretaries, special needs teachers and school principals who are operating in rooms that are converted broom cupboards and storage rooms in schools throughout the State; the county and location of each school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21390/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department and depends on the utilisation by schools of available accommodation and may vary from year to year. Minor works required to convert areas within the existing school premises may be completed under the "Grant Scheme for Minor Works to National School Properties which is a devolved grant scheme, introduced in 1997. to enable school managements to carry out small scale projects to their school buildings. Schools are not required to communicate with my Department in respect of minor works being undertaken under that Scheme.

The demand for additional classroom and ancillary accommodation in schools has risen significantly over the last number of years with the appointment of 6,000 extra teachers since 2002 in the primary sector alone. It is the policy of my Department to provide a permanent accommodation solution in so far as possible to meet accommodation demands presenting in schools.

However, the time span involved in architectural design and obtaining planning permission processes effectively means that, in all instances, it may not be possible to provide a permanent accommodation solution as soon as it is required.

Devolved Schemes introduced by my Department in recent years such as the Summer Works, Emergency Works, Permanent Accommodation and Small Schools Schemes have also assisted school managements in addressing renovation/accommodation issues in their school buildings in as short a time frame as possible.

Arrangements are being made to conduct a survey of accommodation at primary and post-primary level using the Department's recently commissioned Geographical Information System (GIS) and this will establish the position relating to the extent of all accommodation. The specifications for this inventory are being drafted and my Department will be in contact with the education partners in relation to this later this year.

In 2009 almost €614 million will be spent on school infrastructure. It represents a significant investment in the School Building and Modernisation Programme at a time of great pressure on public finances and is a sign of the very real commitment of this Government to investing in school infrastructure and will permit the continuation of progress in the overall improvement of school accommodation.