Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 July 2004
202 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will respond to issues concerning a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and the assistance his Department can give to the school to take measures to improve security at the school. [20769/04]
View answerI appreciate the concerns of the school to which the Deputy refers at the wanton vandalism of school property. The local Garda Síochána is best placed to provide practical advice and support and to make recommendations as to how best to mitigate the potential risk to the school. I understand that most Garda stations have a crime prevention officer who will work with the management authorities in this matter.
If the Garda recommend equipment that cannot be procured from normal funding sources, an application for contingency funding can be made to the school building section of my Department. In the long-term, the advice of the Garda Síochána should be procured in regard to all security issues presenting at the campus. It is open to the school's management authorities to apply under the 2005 summer works scheme, details of which will be announced later this year, for funding for long term security measures required at the school as recommended by the Garda.
