Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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895. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the significance of inclusion on the five year building programme for new schools-extensions; if she will set out the way a building project with a high band ranking, 1.2 (details provided) and which contains a proposal for an ASD unit which is currently accommodated in temporary prefabricated rented accommodation, is not included in the five year programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41513/14]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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896. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools currently in the band rating 1.2; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41525/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 895 and 896 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 numbers. In that regard, the highest priority has been assigned to school building projects serving rapidly developing areas where there is no existing school or where existing provision is unable to meet the demand for additional places. The area where the school referred to by the Deputy is situated has not been identified as an area of demographic growth and is therefore not included in the Five Year Construction Plan. The Deputy will be aware that the Five Year Construction Plan, announced in March 2012, lists the individual new school building projects as well as major extensions that are planned to proceed to construction over the duration of the Plan.

Due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget, it has not been possible to progress concurrently all school projects within the school building programme to construction. This includes the school in question as well as some school projects currently assigned the band rating 1.2. i.e. replacement schools with provision for special needs accommodation. However, the project for the school will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to my Department. As an interim measure, my Department has approved temporary accommodation for an ASD unit at the school for September 2014. There are approximately 40 schools currently assigned the band rating of 1.2 .