asked the Minister for Education the amount of EC finance which has been allocated through his Department to purchase computers and high technology equipment for schools; the criteria which are followed in choosing schools for such funding; and the schools in the Dublin city centre area which have received EC finance.
Written Answers. - EC Funding.
216.
The funds received by my Department from the European Social Fund are in respect of expenditure incurred in the provision of vocational training programmes in accordance with the regulations and guidelines governing the operation of the European Social Fund. In so far as the Department expends Exchequer funds on the provision of equipment for programmes of vocational preparation and training in second level school centres, ESF aid is allowed on a depreciation basis only. Thus any funds provided by the Exchequer towards the cost of providing equipment, be it general or high technology equipment, for school centres involved can only be recouped from the ESF on a depreciation basis over six years. In the circumstances it will be appreciated that the information requested is not available in the form sought in the question.
All secondary schools utilised as centres for the programme receive a special supplemental grant to assist in the production of the programme in addition to their normal grants from the Department in respect of the participants. Additional assistance is also available to vocational education committees.
The schools in the Dublin city centre area participating in the programme on the current school year are as follows:
St. Garvan's Vocational School, Denmark Street
Gairmscoil Ui Chonghaile, North Strand
Vocational School, 1 Parnell Square
Liberties Vocational School
CBS, James's Street
St. Paul's CSB, North Brunswick Street CBS Westland Row
Presentation College, Warrenmount, Dublin 8
Loreto College, Crumlin Road, Dublin 8
St. Teresa's College, George's Hill
Mount Carmel Secondary School, Kings Inn Street
I will communicate with the Deputy at a later date giving more precise information.