Vol. 435 No. 10
8 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Education the number of school premises vandalised in each of the years from 1990 to 1992 and to date in 1993; the measures being taken by her Department to assist schools in combating the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
40 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for Education the number of school premises vandalised in each of the years from 1990 to 1992 and to date in 1993; the measures being taken by her Department to assist schools in combating the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
41 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Education the number of school premises vandalised in each of the years from 1990 to 1992 and to date in 1993; the measures being taken by her Department to assist schools in combating the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 40 and 41 together.
Information is not available on the number of schools damaged by vandalism or the cost of repairing such damage.
In the case of primary, secondary and vocational schools the cost of repairing damage from vandalism is borne by the schools' insurance. My Department is usually not provided with details. Community and comprehensive schools do not have commercial insurance and the repairs are funded by the Department. However, there are no specific figures available in respect of those schools for the costs arising directly from vandalism.
Security of school buildings is a matter for the school authorities in the first instance. As far as the Department is concerned, steps taken to combat vandalism include the installation of intruder alarms, provision of security lighting and perimeter fencing where the particular circumstances warrant such measures.
At post-primary level all new schools and major extensions are designed with provision for intruder alarm systems. Alarm systems may also be provided, as resources permit, in existing second-level schools. Grants are also provided for such systems in national schools in high-risk urban areas. In addition, security lighting and perimeter fencing is provided where the particular circumstances of the school warrant it.
In the case of nine schools in the Finglas area, which have been heavily vandalised, it is proposed to operate a pilot scheme on school security out of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress caretakers provision. A sum of £45,000 will be allocated between the schools in question to provide night security involving a guard and guard dogs. The position will be reviewed after a year and an assessment made of how effective was the scheme.
Will the Minister agree that there is something fundamentally wrong if her Department has not got the relevant figures? She has a report in process; there are school principals, to whom she can refer, there is obvious disruption of the day-to-day running of the school and surely, as a matter of routine, these figures and statistics should be made available to her Department?
Is the Minister aware that last year — this is a conservative estimate — approximately £5 million worth of damage was done to school property through arson, vandalism and so on? Is the Minister aware for example, that the Oblate primary school in Inchicore was vandalised to the tune of £200,000, that St. Agnes's school in Crumlin was vandalised to the tune of £400,000, that St. Mary's multi-denominational school nearby was vandalised to the tune of £200,000 and that many of these arson attacks and vandalising of schools are caused by children who are drunk on the school premises or in the school grounds? Instead of keeping school facilities locked up we should be making them available to enable these children have some social enjoyment or interaction rather than leaving them easy prey to such people when they have drink consumed?
On the matter of vandalism, whenever trouble occurs it is a matter generally between the schools and their insurance companies. I might add that it is cases that cannot be dealt with in that manner that are brought to the attention of my Department. I share the Deputy's concern that, in some cases, children are involved. Indeed this year we have gone some way to responding to communities who have requested that extra facilities be made available to them. It is children who cannot benefit from the schools system who comprise the group to whom we need to turn considerable attention and devote resources.
Would the Minister agree that there is need for an expert objective analysis of the pattern of vandalism? Would she agree — a survey has been undertaken of this — that running throughout every case are common threads. Obviously there is lack of parental control evident in those areas; there is a very high incidence of unemployment and there is a marked lack of appreciation by the children in question of the value of education when it comes to seeking jobs.
We are now having quite an extension of the subject matter involved. I appeal for brevity so that we might make somewhat more progress at Question Time today.
I do not know whether the Deputy seriously wants me to initiate another study. This matter might best be dealt with through the existing departmental inspectorate network. Certainly I would welcome a copy of the findings of any survey that may come to the Deputy's attention. Whenever and wherever law and order problems extend to children within a community I hope that the extension of the schools' liaison service and intervention in precise areas will achieve some long term results. But, while overnight solutions may be attractive subjects to report they hardly constitute the appropriate way to deal with this problem. I will take on board the Deputy's concern and ask the inspectorate in my Department to use their network to build up a picture of problems in certain communities.
