Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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180. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of the criteria for inclusion in his Department's building construction programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20089/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Five Year Construction Plan, that I announced in March 2012, lists the individual school projects that are planned to proceed to construction over the duration of the Plan. The Plan priorities new school building projects as well as major extensions in areas where significant demographic need has been established so that our school system is in a position to cater for increasing pupil numbers. The Deputy will also be aware that due to additional funding made available for the schools' building programme as part of the Government's "Investing in Infrastructure and Jobs" package announced in June 2013, school projects that were not contained in the 5 Year Plan but have completed extensive architectural planning are now being progressed to tender and construction.

In addition to the Five Year Construction Plan, the Department is committed to publishing a detailed annual programme in relation to planned expenditure on individual major school projects commencing construction. The first of these, which related to 2012 expenditure, was published in December 2011. The second, relating to 2013 expenditure, was published in December 2012 and the third, relating to 2014 expenditure was published in November 2013. The 5 Year Plan, together with the annual programmes may be viewed on my Department's website www.education.ie.