Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2013
277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he expects to be in a position to replace temporary or inadequate school buildings with permanent structures in the current year; the extent to which he expects this to impact on the totality of the requirements in the primary and post primary sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3118/13]
View answer283. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools throughout County Kildare currently awaiting approval in respect of replacement of buildings or provision of new structures or other facilities; the extent to which he expects to be in a position to meet such requirements in the current year notwithstanding the on-going budgetary situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3124/13]
View answer284. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of post- primary schools throughout County Kildare currently awaiting approval in respect of replacement of buildings or provision of new structures or other facilities; the extent to which he expects to be in a position to meet such requirements in the current year notwithstanding the on-going budgetary situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3125/13]
View answerI am proposing to take Questions Nos. 277, 283 and 284 together. Information in respect of the current status of all assessed applications for major capital works, including applications for capital works at primary and post primary schools in County Kildare is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie, which is updated regularly throughout the year. The 5 Year Construction Plan that I announced on 9 March 2012 last, outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the Plan. Details of these projects are also contained on the website. The primary aim at the core of the Five Year Plan is focussed on meeting demographic demands 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.
In addition, under my Department's Prefab Replacement Initiative announced in March 2012 over 170 schools have been approved to replace their rented prefab accommodation with permanent accommodation. In excess of €42 million has been allocated for this initiative of which €15.6 million was paid in 2012. This funding is being provided to schools to replace rented prefabs that are currently providing mainstream classroom and resource rooms for an estimated 6,000 pupils. In total 286 mainstream classrooms currently in rented prefabs will receive permanent buildings. School building projects currently in architectural planning, including those projects not included in the five year programme, will continue to be advanced incrementally over time within the context of the funding available. Projects that are at application stage can only be considered for advancement in the context of the demographic challenges set out above.
