Vol. 564 No. 2
148 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application for funding for the upgrading of existing accommodation at a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there may be asbestos present in the school building and that an inspection for the building is being waited on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9143/03]
My Department has received an application for refurbishment works at the school to which the Deputy refers. The project, however, is not yet in architectural planning. In view of the scale of the capital programme for 2003 and having regard to the level of financial commitments to be met from projects already in construction, my Department does not envisage that it will be in a position during this year to initiate architectural planning for any further large scale projects, including that referred to by the Deputy. The timing of when the project can progress will depend on the capital allocation for 2004 and subsequent years. With regard to asbestos, the Office of Public Works has been requested to carry out an inspection of the school. A report is awaited.
149 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will publish a three year plan for his Department; the schools which will have works completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9144/03]
The 2003 schools building programme was published on 22 January 2003 and amounted to €342.9 million – four times the amount allocated in 1997. The 2003 programme will deliver 146 large-scale projects at primary and postprimary level. In addition, approximately 433 schools will benefit in some way from the capital programme and of course all primary schools benefit directly from the devolved grants scheme for minor works.
An innovative feature of this year's programme is the introduction of a devolved building initiative for small rural primary schools. Some 20 school communities will benefit from this pilot initiative. The cost of the 2003 building programme published on my Department's website provides details of the level of commitments to be met in 2003 and the estimated amount available for new projects.
The Government remains committed to continuing the work it has started and to consolidate the substantial progress that has already been made 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 An Agreed Programme for Government. To meet our objectives, I will look 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.
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.
150 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the conditions of a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; his plans for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9145/03]
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. A building project for the school in question 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 budgetary allocation.
