Vol. 564 No. 5
219 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department will permit flexibility in relation to the provision of very necessary facilities (details supplied) in schools where such facilities are not listed by his Department or where the board of management of a school seek to provide such facilities to overcome delays envisaged by the Department's list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10058/03]
The information provided by the Deputy is very general but he will appreciate that the projects proposed for funding under the annual building programme are selected on the basis of objective criteria which I have published for the first time as part of the 2003 building programme. The number of projects selected is based on the budgetary allocation and those schools approved for funding must follow public procurement procedures in regard to tendering.
220 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the discussions held with the Department of the Environment and Local Government on increased housing or the control of such housing in cases where his Department has not the funding to provide new schools, extensions, or prefabs to meet the demand for enrolment in such areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10059/03]
221 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the meetings held with local authorities to highlight or investigate the problem for his Department due to the increase in housing where the Department has not or is not in a position to meet the extra demand for enrolments by the provision of funding for new schools extensions or prefabs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10060/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 221 together.
My Department does not engage in direct consultations with the Department of the Environment and Local Government in relation to the planning or control of increased housing provision. The process of assessing the need for educational facilities at primary or second level in any given area entails consideration by my Department of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet the demand for places.
As part of this process, my Department monitors county development plans and area action plans and meets with local authorities as required to establish the location, scale and pace of major housing developments. Liaison with existing schools is important, also, and these would usually alert my Department where the need for additional accommodation is anticipated. My Department also obtains statistical information from the Department of the Environment and Local Government on a quarterly basis, relating to house completions by sector, area and type.
An assessment is carried out of the likely implications of major housing developments in relation to the capacity of any existing schools. In the event that the level of development and population growth in an area indicates a likely long-term need for additional primary or second level educational provision, a decision is made on the means by which that need should be met. Generally, this involves the provision of permanent accommodation in the form of a new school or an extension to existing facilities. Where appropriate, the local authority is requested to reserve a site for educational purposes and the Department acquires the site for school building purposes, in due course. Temporary or prefabricated accommodation is normally provided to alleviate short-term accommodation needs.
