Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 Mar 1993

Vol. 427 No. 8

Written Answers. - County Cavan Schools.

Andrew Boylan

Ceist:

84 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the deplorable conditions in the national schools of Shercock, Arva and Ballinagh in County Cavan; the intentions, if any, she has to rectify the situation regarding these schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I am glad to confirm for the Deputy that I have authorised that the major building project for Shercock National School should proceed to contract during 1993. Tenders will be invited within the next few weeks and it is hoped that the contract will be placed during the summer.

An extension at Arva National School has been approved in principle by my Department and architectural plans which have been submitted by the Chairman of the Board of Management are under consideration at present. My Department will be contacting the Chairman of the Board of Management regarding these plans in the very near future.

The need for a major upgrading of the accommodation at Ballinagh National School has also been agreed in principle by my Department. It is hoped that architectural planning will be commenced in the near future.

It was not possible to include the building projects at Arva and Ballinagh national schools in the National Schools Capital Programme for 1993 due to other demands, deemed to be of higher priority, which had to take precedence. They will continue to be considered for inclusion in the programme in the light of other commitments and priorities.

I am concerned to bring order to the process by which major building projects to proceed each year are selected. Accordingly I have instructed my Department to establish a system whereby major projects will be regularly listed in order of priority by reference to clearly defined criteria of need. The objective would be to achieve a consensus among all interested parties — the Department, school management organisations, teachers' organisations, parents' organisations on a transparent and fair system which will determine the major school building projects to be released each year having regard to the resources available.