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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Jan 2003

Vol. 560 No. 1

Written Answers. - Asbestos Related Illnesses.

Seán Crowe

Question:

395 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to claims to date by public sector workers regarding asbestos related illnesses; and if, with the large number of schools with asbestos roofs such as St. Kilian's junior school, Kingswood, which has a leaky asbestos roof, moneys have been allocated to a fund for possible future payouts in the education sector. [1419/03]

The 2003 capital programme has now been published and full details in relation to individual projects are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

The project at St. Killian's national school is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. On the basis of the budgetary allocation it was not possible to include it in the new projects to start construction in 2003. The project will be considered again in the context of the 2004 capital programme.

At the request of my Department, a technical inspection was undertaken at the school on 25 November 2002 and all air test results for asbestos were found to be clear. A nationwide survey of primary and post-primary schools is being carried out by the Office of Public Works on behalf of my Department in order to establish the position relating to asbestos in school buildings and to undertake any remediation measures that are necessary.

Where asbestos requiring removal is detected, either as a result of the survey or otherwise, arrangements to undertake the work in accordance with the relevant health and safety legislation are made by the Office of Public Works. The advice to my Department from the health and safety unit of the Office of Public Works is that removal is not necessary in the case of St. Killian's national school. Financial provision has been made for the continuation of the testing and remediation programme in 2003. No provision has been made for compensation payments.

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