Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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176. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the school building programme for County Kildare continues to meet its targets at primary and secondary level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40787/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the 6 Year Capital Plan (2016-2021), announced in November 2015, as part of the Government's €2.8 billion schools capital investment programme, details the major school building projects that are scheduled to proceed to tender/construction over the lifetime of the Plan. It is my Department's intention to progress these projects, including those listed for County Kildare, though the various stages of the architectural planning, tender and construction process.

The Programme aims to prioritise new building projects and major extensions, including for special schools, in areas where significant demographic need has been established. School projects that were announced under my Department's 5 Year Plan (2012-2016) will also be advanced in the Capital Programme. The Deputy will also be aware that in addition, the Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for smaller scale projects for schools, where an immediate accommodation need has been identified, such as the appointment of an additional teacher.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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177. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which it might be found possible to increase the amount of funding made available to the various schools at primary and second level in County Kildare which have received capital allocations in the past two to three years to compensate for increased building costs which have seriously affected this sector; if an examination of all the schools in this category has been undertaken with a view to corrective action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40788/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department routinely increases funding allocations for school building projects to meet building inflation costs. Where schools encounter such costs, it is a matter for them to bring this to my Department's attention and to apply  for a funding uplift. My Department does not intend to issue a blanket uplift as not all schools will encounter this issue. Ultimately, the tender process will dictate the cost of a project and schools are obliged to revert to my Department with the outcome of a tender process where the lowest tender exceeds the grant approval.