Vol. 489 No. 6
705 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps, if any, his Department can take to assist a school (details supplied) in Dublin 1 which has been broken into and vandalised twice in recent weeks and attempts made to burn down the door in view of the resources, poor condition, absence of a security system or full time caretaker. [8767/98]
706 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science the funds, if any, available to his Department to assist a school (details supplied) in Dublin 1 to modernise the toilet facilities, provide an adequate office for the principal, replace the windows, erect a boundary fence, install a security system and provide for essential repainting and redecoration. [8768/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 705 and 706 together.
It is open to a school management to apply to my Department for grant-aid towards capital improvements to their facilities. The process of dealing with applications is set out in the publication, "National School Capital Programme", which issued to all schools in 1994. Since then, a devolved grant scheme has commenced under which each national school is paid a basic annual capital grant of £2,000 plus £9 per pupil, which may be spent by the school on improvement works to buildings, services, grounds and furnishings. I understand the school to which the Deputy refers made an application to my Department within the past couple of weeks for grant-aid towards capital improvements and this application is under consideration.
In regard to the services of a full-time caretaker, the school does not qualify for a full-time caretaker under the Department's 1979 caretaker's scheme. A scheme of additional assistance under PESP for the provision of caretaking services was introduced in 1992. In order to qualify for assistance under this scheme a school needs a minimum enrolment of 195 pupils. I understand that the enrolment of the school to which the Deputy refers is less than this number.
Repainting and redecoration are maintenance issues for a school management and as such, are funded from the school's capitation grant.
