Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Jun 2003

Vol. 569 No. 3

Written Answers. - School Accommodation.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

234 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science the terms and objectives of the pilot initiative announced in May 2003 aimed at reducing the amount of temporary school accommodation required in primary schools; if this initiative involves the provision of additional permanent accommodation in primary schools; the timeframe for this initiative; the amount of funding allocated to the initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17395/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Dempsey)

My Department is committed to greater devolution of control and responsibility for building projects to school authorities. Under this particular initiative, my Department provides a grant to schools and control and responsibility for the planning and construction stages of the building projects is devolved to the school authorities. The Deputy will, therefore, appreciate that the timeframe for the completion of each project is a matter for the relevant school authority. The pilot initiative is focused on enabling each of the participating schools to undertake a permanent solution to their immediate classroom accommodation needs. A sum of €2 million has been allocated to meet the expected cost of this initiative in 2003.