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Schools Building Projects

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 March 2012

Wednesday, 21 March 2012

Questions (145, 146, 147)

Brendan Smith

Question:

143 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a full list of new schools building projects announced in the school building programme 2012-16 but not including schools that have been announced in previous school building programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15316/12]

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Brendan Smith

Question:

144 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, in regard to schools that have not been included in the schools building list 2012-16, they will have to wait another five years to submit an application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15317/12]

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Brendan Smith

Question:

145 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of money being allocated in each year over the next five years for repair and maintenance works in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15318/12]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 to 145, inclusive, together.

The Deputy will be aware of the demographic challenges that we are facing. Total enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by almost 70,000 between now and 2018 — over 45,000 at primary level and 25,000 at post primary — and will continue to grow up to at least 2024 at post-primary level. The Deputy will therefore appreciate that the primary aim at the core of the 5 Year Plan, that I announced on 12 March last, is to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers.

The Five Year Plan prioritises new school building projects, including the new primary and post primary schools that I announced in June last, as well as major extensions in areas where a demographic need has been established. The progression of school projects to construction, as set out in the 5 Year Plan, to meet future demographic demand is the main focus of the Plan. In view of the funding constraints, it is not possible to progress all projects within my Department's building programme concurrently. Accordingly, it was necessary to prioritise school building projects already progressing within architectural planning in the context of the Plan, taking into account factors such as the funding available and the progression of other major projects required to meet demographic needs.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the announcement of the 5 Year Plan represents a major change in how the school building programme is publicised. The Plan gives details of the schools that will progress to construction over the duration of the Plan. Those schools included in the five year plan, many of which were included in previous announcements, now know when their project is likely to commence construction and they can now make plans based on these timelines.

In relation to school projects that are currently within the Department's architectural planning process but have not been included in the 5 Year Plan, such projects will continue to be progressed through the various architectural planning stages up to tender stage. However I am not in position to provide an indicative timeline for the progression of those projects to construction stage at this time. In addition to the standard capitation grant, the Deputy will be aware that a Minor Works Grant issued to primary schools last November for the school year 2011/2012 at a cost of €28m. It is open to schools to prioritise the use of these funds to address issues such as those to which the Deputy refers. In the context of the financial constraints imposed by the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential school accommodation, it is unlikely that there will be funding available for minor works grants in the coming years.

For works that are of a very urgent nature, it is open to the school authorities to consider if the works in question, or part thereof, qualify for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme. An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action and, in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening. Details of the Scheme, together with an application form for grant assistance, can be accessed on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

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