Vol. 461 No. 7
224 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that due to lack of funding by her Department there is no finance available to refurbish the vocational school at Kells, County Meath. [3835/96]
An application has been received in my Department for the provision of funds for remedial works at the school in Kells referred to by the Deputy. The question of providing funds for this work can only be considered in the context of the capital available for post-primary building purposes generally.
Because of the huge demand for additional accommodation in schools throughout the country, I am not in a position at this stage to say when the works can be financed.
225 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Longwood vocational school needs urgent, immediate attention and a special grant from her Department to enable repairs, replacement of broken windows, repainting and the provision of staff toilet facilities, where there are none, to be carried out; and if she will have arrangements made for an officer from her Department to visit the school immediately as adequate money cannot be provided out of the annual grant without seriously affecting other demands, resulting in this school remaining in an unacceptable condition. [3836/96]
My Department approved works to Longwood vocational school in 1992. For various reasons County Meath Vocational Education Committee did not progress the project at the time.
The committee's application has been re-activated recently and includes also a request for grant aid in respect of the works referred to by the Deputy. My Department is examining the application as a matter of urgency.
As part of this examination, an official from the building unit of my Department will visit the school as soon as possible to assess the situation.
226 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the need to replace or repair the roof on Beaufort College, Navan, County Meath in view of the fact that it is causing serious worry and that the architect's full report has been submitted to her Department; and when this work will commence. [3837/96]
The County Meath Vocational Education Committee recently submitted a comprehensive survey report to my Department on the condition of the roof at Beaufort College.
When the documentation has been examined by the Department's technical staff, the school authorities will be contacted immediately.
It is not possible at this stage to indicate when the proposed works will commence.
227 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Dunshaughlin community college, County Meath is in need of extra funding in order to provide a proper service in 1996 in view of the fact that there will be sufficient finance to cover heating, lighting, essential class materials and essential maintenance of buildings and equipment but no moneys available for the provision of an alarm system, develop new courses, purchase new equipment, painting and other much needed repairs; and if she will increase the annual allocation to the Meath Vocational Educational Committee. [3838/96]
The financial allocations for vocational schools and community colleges are made to the vocational education committee as part of a block grant which also covers the vocational education committee overheads and other activities apart from the second-level programme. Grants are not earmarked for individual schools and allocations to vocational education committees do not distinguish between the various activities of vocational education committees.
The question of an increase in the budget of Dunshaughlin community college is a matter to be determined by County Meath vocational education committee.
