Vol. 553 No. 6
78 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has evaluated the report undertaken by the INTO with regard to the quality and condition of school buildings; his plans to take action to meet the concerns expressed in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14782/02]
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation regularly submits a list to my Department detailing a range of schools where it considers accommodation to be substandard. There are currently about 100 schools on this list out of a total of almost 3,200 primary schools.
The criteria used by the INTO in determining which schools are substandard are unclear. It is not clear from the information supplied by the INTO who compiles the reports and the level of technical input, if any, involved in the assessments. While the INTO has raised concerns about 100 schools my Department is currently dealing with a primary capital programme involving more than 600 major school projects under construction, about to go to tender or in architectural planning.
Many of the specific issues raised by the INTO, that is hand washing-drying facilities, heating, replacement of windows and doors, and water supply, are more appropriately dealt with at local school management level by using the devolved capital grant for primary schools. All primary schools now receive an annual capital grant of €3,809 per school plus €12.70 per pupil at a total cost in excess of €17 million per annum. The expenditure of this money is entirely at the discretion of the boards of management.
I intend to audit the performance of local boards of management of the schools on the list in relation to this grant and how it is spent to try to ensure value for money.
My Department currently has more than 400 major projects at primary level in architectural planning, including many of those identified by the INTO. These projects will proceed through the planning stages and will be programmed for construction on the basis of the available financial resources. My Department's planning and building unit regularly meets the INTO to provide information about the overall progress of the primary capital programme.
