Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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231. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update in relation to each of the Programme for Government commitments on school buildings and accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36311/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has made significant progress relating to the Programme for Government commitments on school buildings and accommodation. These are detailed below.

A 5-year School Investment Plan 2012-2016 announced on 9 March 2012, provides for a €2 billion school capital investment programme to 2016, of which €1.5 billion is being allocated to fund major school projects with the balance needed for the additional accommodation scheme, the prefab replacement initiative, the acquisition of sites and other works.

The Plan prioritises major school projects in areas where future significant demographic changes have been identified. There are 275 projects set out in the Plan that are expected to proceed to construction over the duration of the Plan - 106 new school buildings and 65 extensions at primary level; 43 new school buildings and 49 extensions at second level, and 8 new special school buildings and extensions at 4 further special schools In December 2011, details of 56 major school building projects to commence construction in 2012, the first year of the Plan, were published. In December 2012, details of 50 major school building projects were announced to commence construction in 2013, the second year of the Plan.

To ensure that accommodation is available when required, my Department has initiated alternative methods of project delivery whereby responsibility for planning and delivery of projects is devolved to Local Authorities, Education and Training Boards, NDFA, OPW and directly to school authorities.

Following on from the success of the 2012 prefab replacement scheme which provided funding for the replacement of over 458 prefab units, I recently announced that a further 46 schools would be offered grants in 2013 to build permanent accommodation to replace 115 prefabs, subject to the schools meeting certain criteria. The overall policy goal of my Department is to ensure the highest standard of permanent accommodation for all schools.

With regard to the development of an inventory of education infrastructure and related community assets, my Department undertook a pilot study in five areas in the country. The geographic areas included for the pilot study were Tuam, Navan, Clonmel, Portlaoise, and part of Limerick City. The research information gathered from this pilot study was in a format compatible with current Department information systems, such as the Geographic Information System (GIS). This allows my Department to overlay the new information such as site maps, floor plans and other data on to its current GIS mapping system. It is the intention that this expanded inventory data will now be developed on an incremental basis at a national level.

In June 2011, I announced that up to 40 new schools are to be established up to 2017 to cater for increasing demographics across a number of locations. These will include shared campus arrangements where appropriate and possible. Some examples of campus arrangements include the campus development in Monaghan town which provided a primary school, a gaelcholáiste and a further education facility. A campus development in Naas provided a post primary school, a primary gaelscoil and a headquarters building for the IVEA.

I also wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is included among the prescribed authorities to whom local authorities are statutorily obliged to send draft development plans or proposed variations to development plans for comment and sites are reserved, where necessary, under this process to ensure as far as possible the timely delivery of any required education infrastructure

Following the disappointing response from the Congregations to augment their contributions under the 2002 Indemnity Agreement, following the publication of the Ryan Report, I proposed the transfer of school infrastructure to the State at no cost to the Exchequer for the benefit of the taxpayer as one mechanism to allow those involved the opportunity to shoulder their share of the costs. I have continued to engage with the Congregations to seek a greater contribution from them.