Written answers

Thursday, 17 June 2010

Department of Education and Science

Schools Building Projects

5:00 pm

Photo of Joanna TuffyJoanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 234: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the way school building projects are to be prioritised in coming years to meet the need for additional school places throughout the country at primary and second level; the steps being taken to ensure that there is openness and transparency in the way schools are prioritised for building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26117/10]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Forward Planning Section of my Department has carried out a study of the country to identify the areas where, due to demographic changes, there may be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary levels over the coming years. This study has been conducted using data from the Central Statistics Office, the General Register Office and the Department of Social Protection with reference to recent schools' enrolment data. The study indicates that the requirement for additional primary provision in the coming years is likely to be greatest in more than 40 identified locations across the country based on significant changes to the demographics of those areas.

Forward Planning Section is in the process of carrying out detailed analysis and reports for each of these locations in order to identify the school accommodation requirements for each area up to and including the school year 2014/2015. The progression of all large scale building projects arising from Forward Planning Section's analysis of accommodation needs will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

As the Deputy will be aware, all applications for capital funding are assessed in the Planning and Building Unit of the Department. The assessment process determines the extent and type of need presenting based on the demographics of an area, proposed housing developments, condition of buildings, site capacity etc. leading ultimately to an appropriate accommodation solution.

As part of this process, a project is assigned a band rating under published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. These criteria were devised following consultation with the Education Partners.

Projects are selected for inclusion in the School Building and Modernisation Programme on the basis of priority of need. This is reflected in the band rating assigned to a project. In other words, a proposed building project moves through the system commensurate with the band rating assigned to it.

There are four Band Ratings overall, of which Band One is the highest and Band Four the lowest. Band One projects, for example, include the provision of buildings where none currently exist, but there is a high demand for pupil places while a Band Four project makes provision of desirable but not necessarily urgent or essential facilities. Each Band rating has a number of sub categories which more specifically describes the type of works needed and the urgency attaching to them.

Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works are now available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

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