Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 1

Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

278 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans for the provision of a new school building at Scoil Naisiúntá, Tuairíní, Moycullen, County Galway; if this school is on the list for development in 2003; his views on whether a new school should be provided there taking into consideration the view of a senior architect with his Department who stated in a report on the school in July 1998 that the existing building which is over 100 years old is not capable of being modernised to the current standards and the restricted site is not capable of being developed or extended; and when an extension or new school will be sanctioned in this location. [26203/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Dempsey):

The board of management of Scoil Náisiúnta Tuairiní, Moycullen, County Galway, applied for an extension to the school premises in 1997. Following an assessment of the application it was agreed that appropriate accommodation would be provided for a three classroom school.

On foot of the report to which the Deputy refers, arrangements were put in train for the acquisition of a greenfield site to facilitate the provision of a new school building. However, in September 2002 the board of management was notified that due to the adverse financial situation a decision had been taken not to proceed with the acquisition of a site. Accordingly, the school was not included in the 2003 capital programme.

In order to alleviate the school's temporary accommodation problems which have arisen as a result of the appointment of an additional teacher from September 2003, my Department sanctioned grant aid towards the purchase of a temporary classroom in May of this year. The school's permanent accommodation needs will be considered in the context of the 2004 capital programme.

Dan Neville

Question:

279 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science when the changes will be introduced as promised in the programme for Government to the method of delivering building projects in such a way as to maximise the activity at local level. [26204/03]

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

My Department is committed to greater devolution of control and responsibility for building projects to school authorities and has initiated pilot schemes aimed at giving total control and responsibility over building projects to schools. Examples of this are the two pilot initiatives that were introduced at primary level as part of the 2003 school building programme.

The first initiative is focused on small and mainly rural primary schools where the enrolment profile is stable and provides grants of up to €350,000 for a four classroom school with lower grants for three and two-classroom schools. The grant must be used for a building project that will cater for the long-term accommodation requirements of the school.

The second initiative aims to reduce the amount of temporary accommodation required in primary schools. Specifically, this initiative enables primary schools to undertake a permanent solution to their immediate classroom accommodation needs. Maximum grants for schools under this pilot initiative ranged from €100,000 for one extra classroom to €200,000 for two extra classrooms.

Schools have welcomed these initiatives and many projects will be in construction by the end of this year. A review of these initiatives is under way with a view to expanding them in 2004. On a general level the Department is continually streamlining its processes and procedures for managing building projects. The management of small-scale and temporary accommodation projects is typically devolved to primary school authorities and this will be extended at post-primary level.

Dan Neville

Question:

280 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress being made under the National Development Finance Agency programme to ensure the maximum appropriate use of private public partnerships in school projects is progressing. [26205/03]

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

The provision of school buildings is a matter, in the first instance, for my Department. The NDFA has no responsibility for the schools building programme. Consideration of any new PPP projects will be based on an evaluation of the completed pilot PPP schools project together with a thorough assessment of affordability of any new projects in the context of the competing demands on the likely capital funding envelopes and taking into account the issues surrounding the general Government balance.

Dan Neville

Question:

281 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress on the programme for Government which promised to ensure that every school building attains set modern standards and that this would be achieved through a multi-annual programme, the schools modernisation fund, which will be financed through the National Development Finance Agency. [26206/03]

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

The Deputy will be aware that the Estimates process is ongoing at present and that the 2004 funding allocations for all Departments, including my own, have not yet been published. I am on record as acknowledging that the significant levels of investment made in school buildings in recent years need to be maintained if the goal of eliminating sub-standard accommodation is to be achieved. I have also made clear that I favour putting in place a multi-annual capital funding envelope for the next four to five years because I believe that the provision of such an envelope for the school building programme will enable my Department to provide greater clarity for all edu cation partners concerning the progress of projects within the programme.

I am convinced that adopting a multi-annual approach to capital funding projects is the correct strategy and discussions are continuing with my colleague the Minister for Finance on this matter. The major investment of recent years in upgrading school accommodation has resulted in new and enhanced school accommodation throughout the country. In the five years up to and including 2002 my Department has spent €1.248 billion on primary and post-primary school buildings. This is a very significant investment.

The Government remains committed to continuing the work that it has started and to consolidating the substantial progress that has already been made to ensure that the needs of schools throughout the country are met eventually. The process of investment in educational infrastructure begun by the previous Government will be continued, as outlined in An Agreed Programme for Government.