Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2004
242 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which she intends to advance the schools building programme at primary and second level in the context of the Estimates of 2005 or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30883/04]
View answerOn budget day 2003, the Minister for Finance introduced rolling five year multi-annual envelopes for capital investment. At the publication of the Estimates for 2005 last week, the current Minister indicated that he intends to deal with any adjustments to those envelopes in the context of the upcoming budget.
Consequently, I am not in a position to define my detailed plans for capital expenditure across the primary and post primary sectors in 2005 until after budget day. I can, however, give the Deputy a general indication of my intended approach.
Clearly, in 2005 I will want to make further significant inroads on moving to tender and construction projects that are already in the final stages of the design process and are likely to be ready to go to tender during the year.
In advancing the schools building programme, I will also be anxious to develop the focused schemes introduced to address historic under-investment in our schools — initiatives such as the summer works scheme, which benefited over 450 schools in 2004 and the initiative to allow small primary schools to undertake building and modernisation works on a devolved basis, which has already benefited over 60 primary schools. These devolved initiatives, along with the permanent accommodation initiative, have been welcomed by all the education partners in that they give funding directly to management authorities to manage their own building projects.
I am convinced of the merit of using a devolved approach where appropriate and I see them as an important part of my strategy to improve school accommodation.
In tandem with moving new projects forward, whether through traditional or devolved processes, I will of course be maintaining the asbestos, radon and dust extraction remediation programmes and be making the usual provision for emergency works.
