Schools Refurbishment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2010

Tuesday, 22 June 2010

Ceisteanna (437)

Frank Feighan

Ceist:

466 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take regarding inadequate access and egress in line with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, the cover for liability she will provide and the measures she will put in place to make access to and from a school (details supplied) in County Roscommon safe; if she will engage with Roscommon County Council in the matter on this national primary route. [26387/10]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Mary Coughlan)

My Department has not received any correspondence or application in relation to either the access/egress or traffic management works from the school to which the Deputy refers. In general, individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care. It is open to the school authority to use funds allocated to it under the Minor Works Grant to address such issues. Alternatively, the school may apply to my Department for capital funding under the Summer Works Scheme or the Emergency Works Grant scheme. The issue of road safety measures outside the school site, such as road signage, traffic calming measures etc., is a matter that should be raised in the first instance by the school authority with the relevant Local Authority.