Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2004
580 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the capital expenditure on primary schools in County Wexford for 2003; the estimated capital expenditure for primary schools in County Wexford in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2250/04]
View answerMy Department issued €1,890,299.48 to County Wexford schools during 2003 in respect of building projects at primary level. I was in a position to have payments under the grant scheme for minor works issued during 2003 in respect of both the academic year 2002-03 and the academic year 2003-04. Under that scheme, payments issued to all primary schools in County Wexford during 2003 at a rate of €3,809.21 per school and €12.70 per pupil enrolled in respect of each of the two academic years. The total capital allocation for the primary school buildings programme for 2004 is €200 million, covering projects in all counties. Only projects at construction stage have exact costings. It is inappropriate therefore to attempt to indicate the level of expenditure on a county basis as this could compromise the value for money benefit that my Department strives to achieve under the tender process for projects still in architectural planning. Furthermore, the deadline for applications from schools for inclusion under the recently introduced summer works scheme is not yet closed and it is not possible to estimate how many schools will be successful under this scheme on a national or county basis.
