Vol. 519 No. 5
357 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science his appraisal of the value of laboratory equipment in the science laboratories of secondary schools that need to be replaced within the next five years; and his estimate of the value of new additions to laboratory equipment that must be put in place if schools are to offer adequate opportunity for practical work to secondary pupils.. [14468/00]
While details concerning the need to replace equipment within science laboratories are not available to my Department, schools' managerial authorities may apply to my Department at any time for funding towards the cost of replacing furniture and equipment in any room including science laboratories.
In addition, annually my Department pays a grant to all secondary schools towards the cost of providing equipment and material for the teaching of agricultural science, biology, chemistry, physics, physics and chemistry, junior certificate science and other specialist subjects. The total amount paid to each school is determined on a per capita basis by reference to the number of students taking each specialist subject. The total sum recently disbursed under this grant was £514,404.
Concerning the future needs of science laboratories, currently my Department and University of Limerick are discussing the possibility of the latter body undertaking a comprehensive review of the design and layout of science laboratories in second level schools. An integral element of this review involves the preparation of equipment lists including detailed specifications for all science laboratories to enable delivery of the range of programmes in second level schools having due regard to the current and proposed new syllabi and the potential trends in curriculum offerings and delivery methods over the next ten years.
