Vol. 568 No. 1
157 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the reported concern expressed by the General Secretary of the INTO that there was evidence of queue jumping in the most recent schools building list, published by his Department; his views on the claim made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15727/03]
164 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in regard to his Department's announcement of 19 May 2003 regarding additional funding for school buildings, he will give the total additional money provided; the amount allocated of this from the contingency fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15726/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 164 together.
I published the 2003 school building programme in January this year in order to provide the maximum amount of information on projects in planning and at construction to students, parents, teachers, boards of management, managers and all other interested parties. The programme clearly reserved €10.7 million as a contingency fund to cover urgently required accommodation, health and safety works and other urgent works which arise during the course of the normal primary and post-primary school year. My Department has been allocating funding in respect of these works as these emergencies arise.
I want all schools to know how the contingency fund is being spent. The 2003 school building programme was updated on the Department's website in May to reflect these allocations. In addition, the update included details in respect of urgently required temporary classroom accommodation and a new pilot initiative aimed at facilitating primary schools wishing to put a permanent solution in place to meet their immediate classroom accommodation needs. The full cost of these projects is estimated at €10 million with an expected 2003 draw-down at this stage of approximately €6.5 million.
