Bernard Allen
Ceist:69 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education the total number of sub-standard classrooms in primary schools as at 31 March 1991; and if she has satisfied herself with the present position.
Written Answers - Substandard National School Classrooms.
Information of the type requested by the Deputy is not compiled in my Department in a manner that would enable it to be extracted readily. It has been my policy since I assumed office in 1987 to eliminate all sub-standard facilities at the earliest possible date consistent with the resources available to my Department.
Substantial progress has been made in recent years on the primary schools building programme. In the period 1987-1990 a total of two hundred projects for new schools and permanent extensions have been completed and fifty five are at present under construction. In addition a very large number of improvement schemes have been completed in the period e.g. the provision of new toilet facilities, heating and lighting installations, hard play areas, improvements to roofs, doors, windows, insulation and measures needed to satisfy safety and health requirements.
Despite the substantial progress made there are still a number of schools needing attention and I propose to implement the necessary measures in these cases within the next few years in accordance with theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress.