Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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418. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding available as part of her devolved grant scheme in 2016; the amount of funding which has already been awarded to school projects through payments relating to thissScheme in 2016; how much of the scheme's funding for 2016 remains to be allocated; if applications for funding are still being accepted for consideration as part of this current tranche of funding; if a fixed final date exists for the announcement of successful projects as part of the 2016 scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2819/16]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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419. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will award project funding through the devolved grant scheme in instances where a school building project has been placed on the most recent six-year capital investment programme but will not proceed to construction until the latter years of the scheme in order to expedite the completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2820/16]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 419 together.

The Devolved Additional Accommodation Scheme together with the Large Scale Projects Programme (new schools and large scale extensions) is the mechanism by which additional permanent school accommodation is delivered. I can inform the Deputy that approximately 76% of the 2015 capital expenditure in the school sector was accounted for in the provision of permanent school places through the Large Scale Projects Programme and the devolved Permanent Accommodation Scheme. Capital expenditure on the provision of permanent school places is expected to be at similar percentage level in 2016.

Typically, applications from schools requiring additional accommodation to address increasing pupil numbers are received by my Department throughout the year and this pattern will continue in 2016. Following assessment of the applications, schools are advised of the outcome and successful projects are listed on my Department's website.

Where smaller scale projects are involved, that are suitable for delivery by schools directly, these projects are delegated to the school authority concerned. Schools are then in a position to follow the guidelines regarding the appointment of a consultant, obtain planning permission and enter into the tendering process to appoint a building contractor. The process from approval of the project to commencement of works on site depends on the rate of progression of a project by the school concerned. On commencement of works, the school is placed in funds by my Department.

In the case of major school projects on the 6 Year Programme, the positioning of the school projects in terms of year to commence construction is informed by the anticipated progress that each project will make as it progresses through the various stages of the architectural planning process. In that regard, it would not be feasible for a school authority to deliver a major school project via the devolved additional accommodation scheme.