Denis Naughten
Ceist:579 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the schools in County Roscommon which have an application with the primary building unit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16086/02]
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
My Department has an extensive primary school building programme under way at present, details of which are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.
Bernard Allen
Ceist:580 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science if a number of community schools and sports halls built in the 1970s must be replaced by new buildings; and his views on whether a 30 year life span for a school or recreational centre does not represent good value for the expenditure of taxpayers' money. [16090/02]
Following the introduction of free second level education in 1967 there was a sharp increase in the number of post-primary school places required. To address this issue, a number of new community schools were built throughout the State. Of necessity, these buildings were provided within a very short time frame. Due to the economic circumstances prevailing at the time the buildings were relatively inexpensive and had a finite life expectancy.
Ideally, a planned programme of refurbishment and replacement of these buildings should have taken place throughout the 1980s. However, as the Deputy will be aware, the economic situation throughout the 1980s was very difficult, and this was not, therefore, possible. Throughout the 1990s, particularly in the latter years of the decade and extending up to date, the Government has made an unprecedented level of capital investment in school infrastructure. I am pleased to say that, in this context, many of the schools referred to by the Deputy have either been rebuilt or significantly refurbished to the highest standards with a life expectancy far in excess of the original buildings.