Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which funding is likely to be available in the coming year for refurbishment and extension at primary and second level schools throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25605/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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At its meeting on 11 April 2011, the Government approved the preparation of a new capital investment framework for the period from 2012 to be prepared by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This involves a review of the planned public capital programme in order to determine those programmes and projects that will best support economic recovery.

My Department has submitted a report to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on a proposed overall capital investment programme for the period 2012 to 2016 for consideration. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will in due course present a draft review to Government and at a later stage Government Departments will receive notification on their capital allocation for the coming years.

Until the new capital investment framework is in place, it is not possible to give an indication on the level of funding available to any particular element of the school building programme in 2012 or beyond. The necessity to ensure sufficient school places arising from increasing demographics and involving both new school buildings and extensions, will continue to be the priority for schools capital expenditure.