Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2004
256 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason grants and schemes are available to a primary school (details supplied) in County Mayo to carry out repairs to its school buildings; and if it is possible for an official to visit the school and advise its board of management regarding the grant most suitable for the school. [28291/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds a number of schemes through which school building repair projects can be addressed. All national schools receive annual funding under the grant scheme for minor works to national school properties which came into operation in January 1997. The replacement of windows, roof repairs, re-surfacing of school yards, re-painting and re-decorating qualify as improvements to school buildings and grounds and come within the scope of minor works covered by the grant. The summer works scheme provides capital grants for necessary small scale works which can be planned and delivered during the summer months. Applications are considered under the terms and conditions of the scheme and the closing date for their receipt for 2005 was 5 November 2004.
While the school referred to by the Deputy has not submitted an application for funding under the 2005 scheme, it is open to its management authority to apply for funding for key priority works under the 2006 scheme. Details of a streamlined application process for schools requiring temporary school accommodation for September 2005 were published some time ago and a circular outlining the summer works scheme and temporary accommodation application processes was issued to all schools. As in the case of the summer works scheme, the closing date for receipt of applications for temporary accommodation for 2005 was 5 November 2004.
Where the board of management considers that the scope of remedial works required at a school is too extensive to be carried out under the summer works scheme and the school does not require additional temporary accommodation for 2005, it is open to the management authority to make application for inclusion in the school building programme. This can be done by completing the application form FLE, application for grant aid for major capital works for national schools. Application forms and further details on the schemes outlined are available from the school planning section of my Department in Tullamore and on the Department's website at www.education.ie.
On the availability of advice on the schemes available, officials of my Department's school planning section will be pleased to discuss with the chairman of the board of management or principal of the school the selection of the most appropriate funding application mechanism for the works required. The school's local inspector will also be able to assist in this context. The Deputy will appreciate that in the context of available resources, it is not possible for the school planning section to visit prospective applicants at the application stage. If required, a visit can be undertaken at the more appropriate assessment stage of the application process.
