Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 Oct 1995

Vol. 456 No. 5

Written Answers. - Commission on School Accommodation Needs.

Mary Wallace

Ceist:

87 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education when the Commission on School Accommodation Needs will commence its work; the membership of the commission; the terms of reference of the commission; whether public consultation will form a part of the work of the commission; and the intended date for publishing the commission's report. [14201/95]

Mary Wallace

Ceist:

88 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education whether the Commission on School Accommodation Needs will report on the accessibility of existing education facilities for people with disabilities; and if she intends to comprehensively assess the accessibility of education facilities for people with disabilities. [14202/95]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 88 together.

The White Paper on Education, Charting our Education Future, referred to the establishment of a commission on school accommodation needs whose first task will be to examine and make recommendations on the rationalisation of vocational education committees. Following the completion of its initial task the commission will devote its attention to school accommodation needs. I am at present developing proposals in regard to setting up the commission, including its precise terms of reference and will make an announcement on it in due course.

Regarding the question of access to education facilities I would like to point out that in the primary sector 38 per cent of all schools have building access for disabled pupils and 9 per cent of all primary schools have a disabled pupil. If a school which does not have access for disabled pupils requests such a facility my Department grant-aids the work. All new primary schools built since 1992 have full access and facilities for disabled pupils in accordance with the building regulations.

All new second-level schools grantaided by the Department of Education are provided with access facilities and special toilets to cater for disabled students. In the architectural design of emergency evacuation routes, account is also taken of the requirements of students with disabilities. New schools with two stories or more are provided with lifts.

Existing second level schools which make application for grant-aid towards the provision of access facilities for students with disabilities are given consideration in the light of the available capital funds.

In the case of the third-level sector, full provision is made for access by people with disabilities to all new educational facilities; considerable progress has also been made in improving access to existing buildings. The Department continues to give priority to the provision of funding for such improvements.