Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 May 2013
111. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills when funding will be sanctioned for a safe drop off area for a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20701/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra112. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills when funding will be sanctioned for an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20702/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that, in general, individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care. The issue of road safety measures outside the vested site areas of schools on public roads, such as road signage, traffic calming measures etc., is a matter, however, for the relevant Local Authority. Local Authorities have the power to decide on road safety measures outside schools to ensure that measures are in place to protect the safety of local school children. Funding is not available from my Department for this purpose. The school in question has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension. In light of the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of additional school accommodation, the delivery of major school projects required to meet future demographic demand will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming years. The 5 Year Construction Plan that I announced in March 2012 outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the Plan. It is not possible therefore at this point to indicate when a project for the school in question will be progressed. However, school building projects, including the project in question, which have not been included in the five year construction programme, but which were announced for initial inclusion in the building programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to the Department in future years.
