Vol. 489 No. 1
22 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress, if any, he has made in overcoming any remaining obstacles to establishing a points system for allocating funds for refurbishment to schools in need. [7465/98]
64 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with the INTO and others in relation to the development of a points based project prioritisation system for improving sub-standard national schools; and the way in which the proposed system would work. [7445/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 64 together.
The situation in respect of development of a point-based prioritisation system for school building projects is that my Department has made an offer to a consultancy firm to devise the system. The terms of the appointment provide for extensive consultation of the education partners in regard to their views on prioritisation.
I discussed the principle of a point-based system with the INTO. The organisation has welcomed the initiative and has offered full participation in the consultative process. Given that the consultant is about to embark on the development of a system, I am not yet in a position to comment on the detail of how it might work.
