Vol. 577 No. 3
360 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the total amount of funding available to him for expenditure on primary and second level schools in 2004 which are overcrowded or lacking in facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31366/03]
Up to €387 million will be available in 2004 for school building projects. This level of investment will permit a significant number of projects to go to construction during 2004 providing new school buildings; extensions to, and/or refurbishment of, existing school buildings; accommodation for children with special needs as well as many more modest projects such as access for all; roof replacements, mechanical and electrical improvements; site purchases and continuation of remediation programmes covering asbestos, radon and dust extraction.
This is a clear signal of the Government's commitment to education and to the modernisation of school buildings. I will publish the 2004 school building programme this week. This will outline the progress to be made on the various projects during 2004.
361 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which he intends to meet the structural needs of schools throughout the country which are currently deemed to be in breach of health and safety standards from his 2004 budgetary allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31367/03]
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.
Primary schools are given an annual allocation of €3,809 plus €12.70 per pupil under the grants 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. Up to €387 million will be available in 2004 for school building projects. This level of investment will permit a significant number of projects to go to construction during 2004 providing new school buildings, extensions to, and refurbishment of, existing school buildings, accommodation for children with special needs as well as many more modest projects such as access for all, roof replacements, mechanical and electrical improvements, site purchases and continuation of remediation programmes covering asbestos, radon and dust extraction.
This is a clear signal of the Government's commitment to education and to the modernisation of school buildings. In addition, my Department will set aside a contingency fund at primary and post-primary level to deal with emergency works, including emergency health and safety works, during 2004. I will publish the 2004 school building programme this week, which will outline the progress to be made on the various projects during 2004.
