Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the specific projects that he plans for County Donegal arising from the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Plan 2012-2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35828/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Government's Medium Term Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework, which was published on 10 November 2011, sets out the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years. Total enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by almost 70,000 between now and 2018 (over 45,000 at primary level and 25,000 at post primary) and will continue to grow up to at least 2024 at post-primary level. 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. I have previously committed to publishing details next month of the school building projects to be constructed in 2012. Early in the new year, I will publish a five year plan outlining the projects concerned to be constructed in that time.

In relation to the Higher Education sector, I can confirm that my Department will be funding a science facilities extension project at Letterkenny Institute of Technology. This project consists of the construction of new science laboratories within a new third storey extension to the existing Science Building at an overall cost of €3.86m. Construction work began on this project earlier this year and it is targeted for completion in mid-2012.