Vol. 559 No. 6
74 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the specific proposals he has to meet the commitment given in An Agreed Programme for Government, to ensure that every school attains set modern standards; the proposed set standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26707/02]
The Government remains committed to continuing the work that it has started and to consolidate the substantial progress that has already been made in order to ensure that the needs of schools throughout the country are met over time. The process of investment in educational infrastructure begun by the previous Government will be continued as outlined in the agreed programme for Government. To meet our objectives I will be looking closely at the potential for using PPP mechanisms and the concept advanced in An Agreed Programme for government of a multi-annual programme schools' modernisation fund to be financed through the National Development Finance Agency.
In order to ensure the long-term planning of capital provision through a precise and detailed identification of accommodation needs in schools, my Department has undertaken, on a pilot basis, a comprehensive inventory of accommodation of 115 primary and post-primary schools in County Kildare. The information gained from the survey will be placed on a geographic information system, GIS, database. My Department is at present undertaking a detailed assessment of the pilot phase of the inventory to determine the exact nature and extent of the nationwide survey.
The proposed standards will be largely based on the planning guidelines for primary and post-primary schools currently used by my Department.
Question No. 75 answered with Question No. 53.
