Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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246. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the development of a new school (details supplied) in County Louth. [42424/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning.

Planning Permission has been granted and applications for Fire Certification and Disability Access Certification (DAC) are ongoing. Once the necessary statutory approvals have been secured the design team will complete the preparation of tender documents and the pre-qualification of contractors for the project. The project will then proceed to tender stage.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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250. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which he expects the school building programme to advance in the coming year with particular reference to the total number of new school places likely to be provided at primary and secondary level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42448/13]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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257. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress to date in respect of the school building programme, at primary and second level throughout County Kildare; the targets that have already been achieved and those outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42455/13]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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263. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the primary and second school building programme in County Kildare has advanced in each of the past three years to date with particular reference to the building of new schools, the replacement of existing school and his future plans regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42461/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 250, 257 and 263 together.

The current status of all projects on the school building programme, including those for County Kildare, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie which is updated regularly throughout the year. The Deputy will be aware that the 5 year School Investment Plan announced in March 2012, provides for a €2 billion school capital investment programme, of which over €1.5 billion is being allocated to the funding of major school building projects, with the balance needed for the additional accommodation scheme, the prefab replacement initiative, the Emergency Works Scheme and the acquisition of sites. The Plan outlines the major school projects that are planned to proceed to construction over the duration of the Plan. The primary aim at the core of the Five Year Plan is focussed on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. The plan will provide over 100,000 permanent school places, of which over 80,000 will be new school places.

Further to the Five Year Plan, my Department is committed to publishing a detailed annual programme in relation to individual major school projects commencing construction. 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. Details of the building projects to commence construction in 2014 will be announced later on this year.

The Deputy will also be aware of the biggest initiative ever undertaken to reduce the reliance on rented prefabs in schools.. Under the Prefab Replacement initiative 2012 (Phase 1), my Department provided funding of in excess of €42 million for the replacement of over 458 prefab units in 170 schools with permanent accommodation. A further €15 million has been allocated under Phase II of the Prefab Replacement Initiative, that was announced in June this year, for the replacement of over 115 prefab units in 46 schools. This funding will be used to replace prefabs with permanent classroom and resource rooms accommodation. A total of eight schools in County Kildare will benefit from this initiative.

Also in June this year, the allocation of further funding as part of the Government's "investing in Infrastructure & Jobs" package, will enable a further 28 school projects to be progressed to construction. This investment will enable 18 primary schools, including a school in County Kildare, and 10 post-primary schools to be replaced or refurbished with state of the art classrooms and facilities for over 12,000 students. Details of all school capital works that have been funded by my Department may be viewed on my Department website and this is updated on a regular basis.

For the Deputy's convenience, a list of the major new schools/extension projects that were completed in County Kildare, between 2010 and to date in 2013 is outlined as follows.

Major school building projects in County Kildare completed from 2010 to date in 2013