Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 June 2012
208 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position in relation to a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow which has applied for additional funding to carry out the necessary work; if this can be allocated as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27186/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool authorities are responsible for managing the delivery of their devolved building projects and ensuring that the project is delivered within the approved budget. The school referred to by the Deputy was allocated devolved funding for the provision of a mainstream classroom and a multi-purpose room under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme in 2011.
In April 2012 the school authority wrote to my Department requesting additional funding for a number of additional items to the original approved project. When re-assessing the schools application it emerged that the school had changed the scope of works for which the funding had originally been approved. The school authority have been advised that the application for additional funding was unsuccessful and that the Department was satisfied that the grant provided was sufficient to provide the level of accommodation approved. The school were advised to consider reducing the scope of works to that approved by the Department so as to keep within the original budget of approved funding. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that there are many competing demands on my Department's capital resources and in this context it must prioritise applications for the provision of much needed additional mainstream classroom accommodation.
