Vol. 541 No. 2
1127 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if a funding mechanism exists which will allow a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11 to access funds in order to make up the 5% local contribution necessary for them to avail of his Department's grants for refurbishment of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22185/01]
Under the funding arrangements introduced in 1999, the amount of the local contribution for school extensions-refurbishment was reduced from 15% to 10% and, in addition, the contribution was capped at £10,000 in the case of disadvantaged and special schools. These arrangements are of a general application and I regret that it is not open to my Department to depart from them unless there are very exceptional circumstances involving hardship in individual cases.
