I propose to take Questions Nos. 373 to 377, inclusive, together.
The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The school's Design Team are currently working on the Stage 2b Submission (Detailed Design) which, on completion, will be forwarded to my Department for review. The cost incurred in the design stages of the building project amounts to €309,000, mainly in design team fees for work to date. On 12th March last I announced details of 219 new major school building projects which will begin over the next 5 years as part of a €2 billion capital investment programme. These new projects were in addition to 56 major school building projects already announced for 2012. This five year plan details when those major projects will proceed to construction. The projects announced will account for the bulk of the capital funding available in each of those years. Total school enrolments are expected to grow by around 70,000 students between now and 2018 — by over 45,000 at primary level and 25,000 at post primary. Second level enrolment is expected to continue to rise until at least 2024.
Recent birth rate data, published by the CSO show there were nearly 20,000 births registered in the first quarter of 2011. This is the highest number of births registered in a quarter since the series began in 1960. It is vital that the schooling system is prepared to cope with these increasing numbers. Therefore, the Government's priority is now to focus on major school projects to meet these demographic demands. As such enrolment increases are not uniformly distributed nationally, my Department has carried out a study of the country using data from the Central Statistics Office, the General Register Office and the Department of Social Protection in addition to recent schools' enrolment data to identify the areas it is projected that there will be significant future enrolment increases. The information used is the most accurate and up-to-date information available.
In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet the demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools over those years. For purposes of the 5 Year Plan, new school building projects as well as major extensions have been identified and prioritised on the basis of meeting demographic needs in areas where such needs have been identified. In that regard, the current status of projects already in architectural planning, including the project referred to by the Deputy, was also considered. Due to the financial constraints imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of school accommodation to meet the demographic requirements, it has not been possible to advance all applications for capital funding concurrently. School building projects currently in architectural planning, including the project referred to by the Deputy, will continue to be advanced incrementally over time within the context of the funding available. However, in light of current competing demands on the Department's capital budget, it is not possible to progress this project to tender and construction stage at this time. Therefore, I do not propose to meet delegations, such as that requested by the Deputy, regarding individual school building projects. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 school authorities are responsible for managing safety, health and welfare in schools and for having a safety statement in place in their schools, to identify possible hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate safeguards in place. In practical terms, individual school authorities are best placed to assess the detail of their own health and safety requirements and there are many information sources such as Codes of Practices, guidelines, legislation and standards available to support them in this task. In the meantime, if the condition of the accommodation referred to is of concern to the school authorities and the works are of a very urgent nature, it is open to the school authorities to apply 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. I also wish to advise the Deputy that where an immediate enrolment need in an area has been identified, e.g. the appointment of an additional teacher and where school’s existing accommodation cannot provide for this growth, the Department will be prepared to consider applications by schools for capital funding for additional classrooms mainly on a devolved basis.