Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 1

Written Answers. - School Accommodation.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

208 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the inadequate accommodation available at a school (details supplied) in County Offaly; whether he has received proposals from the board of management seeking to refurbish the school to bring it up to suitable modern standards or to provide funding to construct a new school building on a green field site; the preferred option of his Department; whether he will provide funding in 1999 to address this need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22167/98]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

209 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the health and safety issues in a school (details supplied) in County Offaly due to the defective electrical wiring and the unhygienic and unsatisfactory toilet and washing facilities; the measures, if any, he will take to address these difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22168/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together.

The position is that my Department has carried out an architectural assessment of the school referred to by the Deputy and accepts that the existing accommodation needs to be upgraded. The means by which this can be achieved are currently being examined. When a mutually acceptable solution has been agreed, the question of funding can then be addressed.