Vol. 553 No. 5
238 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the need to carry out maintenance work and an extension to Kilcredan national school in County Cork; his plans to authorise this work to be carried out; the timescale for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14545/02]
The maintenance of a school building is the responsibility of a board of management. My Department issued each school with a maintenance manual in 1998 and boards were exhorted to adopt a proactive approach to maintenance. Schools also receive a grant of €3,809 per school plus €12.70 per pupil under the devolved grant scheme.
Architectural planning for a proposed extension to Kilcredan national school is at an early stage. Decisions on projects proceeding to tender and construction are taken in the light of the annual allocation for primary school buildings, the financial commitments to be met and the priority to be afforded to individual projects.
An extensive building programme for 2002 has already been approved and published. It is not envisaged that the proposed building project at Kilcredan national school will proceed to construction in 2002.
Later this year, when a financial allocation has been made for the primary school building programme in the 2003 Estimates, I will frame a further comprehensive programme of works that will proceed to construction. The school concerned will be one of those considered for inclusion in that programme.
I intend to bring greater transparency to the operation of the school building programme and to publish the programme annually. I am also anxious to build a multi-annual dimension into the published programme so that schools will have an indication of the expected timelines relating to their project.
