asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the unique financial difficulties being experienced currently by a number of primary schools in the inner city area of Dublin having regard to the depopulation of the area; if he is prepared to obtain from the Government additional and special financial assistance for these inner city schools from the £1 million fund that has been made available by the Government to assist and aid the conservation and social development of the inner city area of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Inner City Schools.
5.
My Department have obtained from the grant-in-aid of £1 million referred to in the question an amount of £200,000 for the purpose of improving educational facilities in selected national schools in the Dublin inner city area. The money is being allocated for environmental improvement schemes and for the provision of teaching aids and equipment.
Could the Minister give us a little more detail as to what is meant by environmental improvement schemes?
At the moment my inspectors and administrators in the Department are examining all the environmental improvement schemes and the provision of teaching aid and equipment. When they report to me fully we will be expending money in that area.
Could the Minister give an assurance that there will be full and adequate consultation with the schools in the area as to how the money is to be spent?
Certainly.