Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reform the eligibility for schools to avail of capital funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26239/13]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria for the selection of schools to be capitally funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26260/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together.

My Department's over-riding objective is to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. To ensure that this is achieved, the delivery of major school projects to meet significant demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The Five Year school building programme that I announced in March 2012 is focused on meeting those demographic needs. The 5 Year Construction Plan, together with my announcement last December of the 50 school projects which are scheduled for construction in the current year as part of a €2 billion capital investment programme, outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the Plan (2012-2016).

It is not possible to progress all projects within the Department's building programme concurrently due to competing demands on the Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of essential additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements. I wish to advise the Deputy that where an immediate enrolment need in an area has been identified e.g. the appointment of an additional teacher and where a school's existing accommodation cannot provide for this growth, my Department will be prepared to consider applications by schools for capital funding for additional classrooms mainly on a devolved basis. My Department has no plans to adjust the current criteria for schools accessing capital funding.