Vol. 567 No. 3
133 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if the furniture grant will be finalised in respect of the North Kildare Educate Together School, Ballymagealy, Celbridge, County Kildare; the arrangements for same; the amounts involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14106/03]
My Department has grant aided the provision of the new school building for north Kildare Educate Together, which is now nearing completion. The Department recently advised the school that it can apply for a one-off start-up grant of €6,500 for the special class for children with autism. Based on the budgetary allocation, a sum of €1.2 million was allocated towards the cost of providing furniture in primary schools in 2003. The Deputy will therefore appreciate that it is not possible, at this stage, to provide grant aid towards the cost of replacing the existing furniture at the school. However, the school may use funds allocated by my Department under the terms of the grant scheme for minor works to purchase additional furniture provided such funds are not required for more urgent and immediate works.
