Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 552: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will respond to correspondence from a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12; if he will address the valid concerns of this school; his views on whether this school was given inaccurate information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42717/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 553: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he replied to a person while on an official visit to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12 by stating that there was no money available for school buildings and he committed that he would review the application as a matter of priority should moneys become available; the way, in view of that commitment, he can justify diverting €200 million for the school building fund to provide a laptop and data projector for every classroom here in view of the dilapidated condition of prefabs in this school and many other schools and that in fact many teachers will not be able to use the said laptops and data projectors in the prefabs due to the dampness and poor security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42733/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 552 and 553 together.

The main area where expenditure under my Department's capital programme for 2009 is less than anticipated is on Primary and Post-Primary major capital projects. These projects comprise new schools and major extension and refurbishment projects.

Any savings in 2009 relating to this is a deferred or delayed commitment. This commitment will now arise in 2010.

The progression of any further large scale building projects at this late stage of the year would not result in a spend on the Department's capital budget in 2009. This action would only result in further commitments for 2010 and subsequent years. My priority is to progress the current building programme as announced and I will be announcing a further programme for large scale projects in due course.

The ICT grant announced by the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, T.D., on 16 November, 2009 is part of an action plan produced by the joint advisory group, which I established to assist with the progression of the integration of ICT in teaching and learning.

The plan builds on the earlier strategy group report, 'Investing Effectively in ICT in Schools".

Under the grant, every classroom in the country is to get a teaching laptop, software and digital projector over the next three years as part of a €150 million plan for 'smart schools'. As a first step, €22 million in grants will issue to primary schools before the end of this year of which €13 million is being provided under the School Building Programme. Funding for post primary schools will be made available early in the New Year.

Each school building programme comprises several elements between which the annual budget is divided. For 2009, these elements include: Large scale building projects Smaller scale devolved schemes Temporary Accommodation Scheme Summer Works Scheme Energy Efficiency Scheme Asbestos/ Radon remediation Emergency Works Grants Furniture and equipment ICT Measures The school to which the Deputies refer has applied for funding under the large scale capital funding heading.

Consistent with all such applications, this application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a Band 2 rating.

The project will be considered for inclusion in my Department's 2010 capital programme. However, due to the level of demand on the Department's capital budget, no commitment can be given for the inclusion of the project in that or any subsequent capital programme.

In the meantime, it is open to the school to which the Deputies refer to apply for funding under any of the other headings under my Department's capital budget which I have outlined like the temporary accommodation Scheme or the Summer Works Scheme to address any immediate needs it might have.