Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Feb 2003

Vol. 562 No. 1

Written Answers - Schools Building Projects.

Seán Crowe

Question:

340 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps which have been taken to ensure the safety of staff, students and structures at Scoil Santáin, Bothar na hAbhann Móire, Tamhlacht, BAC 24; if his attention has been drawn to the numerous incidences of vandalism over the past two years and to the fact that the school was forced to close for six days following the severance of an electric cable; and his plans to address the concerns of parents, students and staff. [5548/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

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

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that provision has been made in this year's programme for a smaller scale project to improve security at Scoil Santain. My Department's building unit has been in touch with the school authorities regarding this matter. The large scale refurbishment-extension project at Scoil Santain is at an early 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 budgetary allocation for 2004 and subsequent years will determine the rate of progress on projects that could not be included in this year's programme.