Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
471. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) in County Limerick will be placed on a school building list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17200/13]
View answerThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The design team is currently working on the completion of the Stage 2(b) submission. When that submission is received and reviewed my Department will then contact the Board of Management of the school as to the potential, at that time, for further progress of the project. In view of the financial constraints imposed by the need, as outlined in the Five Year Plan, to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential school accommodation to meet demographic demand, it is not possible to indicate at this point when the major project for the school will be progressed.
My Department recently received copies of the reports referred to by the Deputy. These have been considered and a response has issued to the school advising that, in the meantime, for works that are of a very urgent nature, it is open to the school authorities to consider if the works in question qualify for funding under the Department's Emergency Works Scheme.
An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action and, in the case of a school, if not corrected, would prevent the school or part thereof from opening. Details of the Scheme, together with an application form for grant assistance, can be accessed on my Department's website at www.education.ie.
