Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 4

Written Answers. - Schools Refurbishment.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

151 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the condition of St. Fergal's boys national school, Cappagh Road, Finglas West, Dublin 11, which has suffered serious deterioration due to vandalism and lack of investment by his Department; if his attention has further been drawn to INTO concerns that the school is a health hazard and has threatened to withdraw teaching services if conditions do not improve; the amount of capital funds in total available to his Department in 2000; the overall amount allocated to primary schools; the amount allocated to Dublin primary schools; the reason capital funds cannot be made available for improving such poor facilities given the enormous budget surplus; and if he will outline his plans to take immediate steps to address deficiencies in this school building. [22820/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

My Department received an application from the school authorities to have improvement works carried out at St Fergal's boys national school, Cappagh Road, Finglas West, Dublin 11 and I am aware of the INTOs concerns in the matter.

My Department has requested the Office of Public Works to provide a technical report in order to determine the extent and cost of the works to be carried out at the school. As soon as this report is received the matter will be progressed immediately.

The capital funding allocated to the primary and post-primary school sectors this year was £193 million. Of this amount, £81 million is available to the primary sector. Since 1999, 19 primary school projects, each costing in excess of £250,000, commenced in the Dublin area at an estimated value of £9.5 million. In addition, my Department approved over 130 minor grants this year for improvement/ refurbishment works in primary schools in the Dublin area. The estimated value of these grants is £5 million.

The Deputy will also be aware that in 2000, each primary school has already received a basic grant of £3,000 plus £10 per pupil to carry out minor improvement works to national school properties under the devolved grant.

In relation to major capital projects, the availability of funding is only one of a number of factors influencing the rate of progress to construction. This depends on factors such as the complexity and size of the project, the time required to undertake architectural planning, the volume of other projects being dealt with by the design team and by my Department, the period of time required for the granting of planning permission and a fire certificate and the outcome of the tender competition.

These processes are by their nature lengthy and complex and can take a considerable period of time to complete. Delays can arise at any point in the process, consequently it is not possible to say when projects being processed at present will proceed to construction. However, every effort is made by my Department to minimise delays and to ensure that construction is started in the shortest period of time possible. In all cases, the school authorities will be kept informed of progress.