Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 887: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the Donegal Education Centre; the amount of rent paid to date for this premises; the details of the property owner; the length of the lease agreement in place; her views on purchasing a premises for the education centre in view of the good value in the property market; if she will confirm that Donegal is the only education centre in the country renting a premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14634/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The centre which the Deputy refers to is part of a network of 21 full-time and nine part-time Education Support Centres throughout the country.

The Centre is currently on a four year lease which currently costs €90,000 per annum and this lease will expire in 2012. Since the Centre moved into its current premises in 2004 there has been no change in the rate of the lease. However, the management committee of the Centre has requested a reduction in the rate and this is currently being considered by the owner.

In view of the current budgetary constraints I am not in a position to provide the Deputy with a definite date for the acquisition of a site for this Education Centre. The further consideration of site identification and acquisition and any subsequent building project will be considered in the context of the Department's capital programme.

There are two other full time Education Support Centres who are currently renting their premises.