Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Mar 2003

Vol. 562 No. 4

Written Answers - Health and Safety Regulations.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

276 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science when funding will be released to address health and safety issues at St. Kieran's boys national school, Limerick, which have led to the insurers of the school indicating that they can no longer provide it with insurance cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6577/03]

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

Individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care. In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, it is the responsibility of school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. Schools are obliged to identify possible hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate safeguards in place.

In relation to conditions at schools generally, all primary schools are given an annual allocation of €3,809 plus €12.70 per pupil under the grant scheme for minor works which can be used entirely at the discretion of school management to address basic health and safety issues relating to the school infrastructure.

In addition, my Department has in recent years given approximately €90,000 in grant aid towards health and safety works at the school in question. Provision has also been made in this year's school building programme for a smaller scale project to help address the health and safety issues at the school.