Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 598: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide breakdown on a county basis all primary schools here using rented accommodation; the date of installation of this accommodation; the rent on an annual basis; and the name of the supplier. [36877/09]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 599: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide breakdown on a county basis of all post primary schools here using rented accommodation; the date of installation of this accommodation; the rent on an annual basis; and the name of the supplier. [36878/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 598 and 599 together. I will arrange to forward the information requested by the Deputy shortly. It is currently anticipated that there will be a saving of at least €14 million in expenditure on rental temporary accommodation in 2009, compared to 2008. This clearly demonstrates the efforts being made by my Department to reduce spending in this area.

My Department has engaged a specialist firm to develop new procedures and systems for the provision of temporary accommodation with a view to achieving best value for money. Work is well underway and the firm of specialists is working closely with officials in the planning and building unit of my Department. The review incorporates the development of standard specifications for temporary accommodation, the development of new contractual terms to incorporate buy-out and relocation options to cater for individual local circumstances and appropriately protect the interests of the Department and school authorities. The work also involves negotiations with prefab suppliers to buy out existing rental contracts or reductions in annual rent, as appropriate. Progress has been made in all areas of the review.

An initial group of 46 schools with rented prefabricated accommodation has been identified for priority negotiations with suppliers to buy out existing rental contracts. A considerable number of meetings have taken place between the firm of specialists engaged by my Department for this task and the prefabricated accommodation suppliers. It is expected that negotiations will be concluded shortly on a number of these. My Department will then make decisions on the most appropriate way to proceed in each case.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 600: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he will provide funding towards the provision of an extension to provide ancillary accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36889/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for large scale capital funding for the provision of ancillary accommodation from the school to which he refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band rating of 3. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including the project referred to by the Deputy, are now available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were formulated following consultation with the education partners. There are four band ratings under these criteria, each of which describes the extent of accommodation required and the urgency attaching to it. Band 1 is the highest priority rating and Band 4 is the lowest. Documents explaining the band rating system are also available on my Department's website.

The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of this project at this time.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 601: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the case of a school (details supplied) in County Limerick. [36891/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for large scale capital funding from the school to which he refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a Band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including the project referred to by the Deputy, are now available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme. Furthermore, my Department is now in the process of identifying school projects eligible for consideration for inclusion in the 4th bundle of public private partnership projects and the school in question is being considered in that context. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of this project at this time.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 602: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to parliamentary question No 355 of 22 September 2009 the 40 sites identified by his Department as having the greatest need for new primary school provision; if he will provide a copy of the letter issued to each patron; the responses his letter has received from patrons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36896/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I will arrange to have the information requested by the Deputy sent to him.