P. J. Sheehan
Question:38 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans his Department has to meet the demands for a more liberal approach for school transport in rural areas. [6893/01]
Written Answers. - School Transport.
The school transport scheme was established in 1967. The scheme was basically designed to cater for children in rural areas, who, if living a long distance from school, might otherwise have difficulty in attending school regularly. I found that very little change had taken place in the scheme since its inception and I felt that this needed to be addressed. I am pleased to say that I was successful in obtaining an extra £2.85 million this year in order to permit a range of improvements to the scheme.
In January last I announced major improvements to the scheme, which will significantly improve matters. These include the following. The qualifying distance for primary school pupils aged ten or over has been reduced from three miles to two miles so that all primary pupils will be treated equally for eligibility purposes. The number of eligible primary pupils required to establish a new school bus service has been reduced from ten to seven. There will be a reduction in the threshold for maintaining a service to four eligible pupils provided there is also a minimum of six fare-paying pupils using the service. The combined maximum daily travelling and waiting times for post-primary pupils will be reduced from three hours to two and a half hours. The distance requirement for primary pupils to qualify for remote area and scheme D grants will be reduced from three miles to two miles and the grants will be paid to each family. The qualifying distance for grant-aid for post-primary pupils residing remote from a school bus route will be reduced from three to two miles. The rate of grant payable is being increased and the question of two or more families sharing a grant will no longer arise. All school vehicles will have a communications system on board during the course of this school year. Arrangements will be made for all buses to have first-aid kits on board by the end of the year.
I also decided to make provision whereby parents may, if they so wish, pay for extensions of bus services where feasible, having regard to time schedules and avoidance of major disruption to other pupils using the service. I also requested my Department, in co-operation with Bus Éireann, which operates the scheme on behalf of my Department, to carry out a thorough review regarding safety on school buses to be completed within three months.
Ulick Burke
Question:39 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has to respond to the recent report which identifies 40 national schools as unsuitable for habitation; and the further plans he has to allow fast tracking of the planning process in these schools to carry out immediate repairs, refurbishment and extensions where necessary. [6852/01]
Eamon Gilmore
Question:50 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science his response to the 40 primary schools recently identified by the Irish National Teachers Organisation which pose serious health and safety risks; and the proposals he has to deal with these as a matter of urgency. [6970/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 50 together.
Significant progress has been made by this Government over the past three years in eliminating substandard schools. Since taking office, this Government has made very substantial capital investment in the primary sector. For the year 2000, £81 million was allocated for primary school capital projects. This has been increased to £93 million for the current school year. This compares with only £19.5 million in 1993 and £34 million in 1997. Under, the National Development Plan 2000-2006 an unprecedented £413 million has been set aside for school infrastructure.
Thirty-one of the 40 schools mentioned have been approved to proceed with necessary works and are already involved in the process. I have asked my officials to follow up with the remainder as quickly as possible.
My Department currently has more than 300 major projects at primary level in architectural planning. Major projects are those with an estimated value of £250,000 or more. In addition, approximately 900 applications for capital works in pre-architectural planning stages are being processed, including urgent projects in developing areas where there are no existing schools. While every effort is being made by my Department to expedite these projects it is a reality that architectural planning by its nature takes time and consequently there is a lead in time before replacement buildings are in place.
My Department has noted from the INTO's press release that there appears to be evidence of vermin in some of the schools published. A prob lem with vermin usually derives from an inadequate approach to hygiene and can occur in new and the most modern buildings if waste food and other debris is not properly disposed of. I am concerned about the incidence of vermin in some schools reported by the INTO. This is first and foremost a health and safety issue that should be addressed by each board of management locally. My Department will be writing to the schools concerned alerting them to the need for adequate measures to combat any vermin problem. Funding does not stand in the way of rectifying any problem with vermin. In the event that the Board of Management considers that some remedial work is necessary my Department will be pointing out that in addition to the capitation grants they may of course also use the funds already provided to them under the Department's minor works scheme.
Primary schools are paid an annual grant under the devolved scheme of minor works to national school properties. The grant is intended to go towards improvements to school buildings and grounds and expenditure of the money is entirely at the discretion of the boards. In the year 2000, £14 million was allocated to this scheme. A similar amount will be allocated for the current school year.
While I acknowledge that more remains to be done in the capital area, I remain committed to ensuring that the improvement of primary school accommodation will be accorded maximum priority.