Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Mar 2003

Vol. 562 No. 4

Written Answers - Schools Building Projects.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

242 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the waiting list for enrolment at Sallins National School, Sallins, County Kildare is 132, the maximum accommodation available is 60, that three new housing schemes are under construction, and that the lack of permanent classrooms will leave an overflow of approximately 200 children in three years; if, in the circumstances, he will move the project from the current band 2 to band 1; his views on the urgency to facilitate the immediate advancement of the building project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6199/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The 2003 school building programme has now been published and full details in relation to individual projects are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

On the basis of the budgetary allocation it was not possible to include any further projects in 2003. The budgetary allocation for 2004 and subsequent years will determine the rate of progress on projects that could not be included in this year's programme.

All applications are assigned a band rating using the following rating or band system. If a project straddles more than one band, it is assigned to whichever band the bulk of the project relates. To be accorded a band 1 rating a project must be deemed to be absolutely essential having regard to the scale of the proposed development as expressed in area, sq. meters, and pupil numbers; availability of alternative accommodation solutions either at the school in question or at schools within a reasonable distance of it; level of recent capital grant aid to school; age and condition of the building; cost of the proposed development; the target delivery date for the project; length of time from initial application; the presence of an effective maintenance programme; the effective use of the devolved grant; and if the project is in a RAPID or CLÁR area

The following types of projects, listed in order of priority, will fall under this heading: the provision of new schools to cater for substantial increase in enrolments in rapidly developing areas where no other primary school exists – roof over heads projects the provision of specialist accommodation that is urgently required for children with special needs such as autism, speech and language impairment, severe and profound intellectual impairment etc.; the replacement/ refurbishment of very poor buildings, including old prefabs, which are structurally unsound; and the provision of accommodation that is absolutely necessary to facilitate agreed amalgamation.

A project assigned a band 2 rating is essential, having regard to the factors outlined above, and involves a requirement for additional classroom accommodation over and above the current complement of mainstream permanent classrooms. In short, a project assigned a band 2 rating is not of the same degree of urgency as band 1. The following types of projects will fall under this heading: replacement-refurbishment of poor buildings, including old prefabs, where the Department is satisfied that the need is serious and acknowledged but not of the same degree of urgency as band 1 and additional classroom accommodation, over and above the current complement of mainstream permanent classrooms, is required; where the Department is satisfied that additional classroom accommodation, over and above the current complement of permanent classrooms, is required at schools to cater for substantial increase in enrolments which will be sustained in the long-term.