Vol. 565 No. 2
44 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of substandard primary schools here; if he accepts the INTO list as being an accurate reflection of the situation; and if he has proposals to ensure they are brought up to standard. [10300/03]
I accept the reality that some schools have substandard and inadequate accommodation. It is not possible, however, to wipe out in the short-term the cumulative deficit of generations. This Government has acknowledged the historical deficit in educational infrastructure and has set about redressing the situation by allocating substantial funding over recent years. Redressing the situation will take time but the Government is determined to ensure that the needs of schools right across the country are met.
My Department cannot accept the argument being advanced by the INTO that schools which do not adhere to my Department's planning guidelines are necessarily substandard. These guidelines were drawn up in January, 2000 for the use of architectural design teams where new schools or extensions to existing schools are being planned for the future. The vast majority of the schools listed by the INTO are relatively small buildings and therefore, amenable to considerable improvement with the funds made available to them. Many of the schools listed by the INTO are already in architectural planning.
My Department must also fund the building of new schools in developing areas where none exist and deal with the provision of new special education facilities.
The Deputy will be aware that the 2003 capital programme has been published and it includes a new pilot initiative aimed at devolving responsibility to school authorities for the planning and construction phases of improvement works at their schools. Twenty small schools were invited to participate this year. This initiative will be reviewed at the end of 2003 with a view to its expansion, subject to the availability of funding, to other small primary schools in 2004.
