Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an dTeachta as ucht deis a thabhairt dom freagra a thabhairt ar an ábhar tabhachtach ar chionn oideachais. I am taking this adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, Minister for Education and Science.

I am happy to outline to the House the Department's position regarding a proposed application for capital grant aid for emergency works by St. Brigid's girls' national school, Killester. The main purpose of the emergency works scheme is to ensure the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools most in need of resources as a result of an unforeseen event of a capital nature that can arise during the course of a school year. The application process requires the provision to the Department of specific relevant information to enable a verifiable, speedy and equitable assessment and decision.

Primary and post-primary schools requiring capital grant aid for emergency works in the current year must apply under this scheme. The purpose of the scheme is solely for unforeseen emergencies which cannot be funded by the school's own resources. All relevant and supporting information in regard to an application must be provided in order to support a claim for grant-aid under this scheme. All applications are dealt with on an individual basis.

I understand that the school authority has been in telephone contact with the building unit of the Department concerning a problem with the water tanks. I further understand that an application for emergency funding will be submitted in the near future. When this application is received it will be assessed without delay and the school authorities will be notified of the outcome. I can confirm to the Deputy that the school has applied for funding for water conservation measures. This application was made under the terms of the summer works scheme for 2010.

When the Minister announced details of this scheme last year, he said that he was anxious to help schools to conserve water and keep their water bills as low as possible now that full water charges are on the way. He introduced a new category under the 2010 summer works scheme to address this issue.

The most appropriate water conservation design approaches have been identified by the Department for many years and form part of the standard low energy school designs that are used when new schools or major extensions are being built. The Minister now wants to focus on existing buildings to minimise, as far as possible, the impact of water charges on all school budgets. Specific simple and straightforward measures have been identified by the Department which should minimise excess consumption of water and reduce wastage. These measures will also contribute to the Government's national targets on reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

The water conservation measures will be funded as part of the usual broader summer works scheme to make structural and other improvements to school buildings while pupils are on their holidays. The closing date for the receipt of applications under the summer works scheme for 2010 was 27 November 2009. The applications received, including that from the school in question, are now being assessed.

In keeping with the timetable published with the governing circular letter for the scheme, the Minister expects to be in a position to publish the list of successful applicants in the spring. I again thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the current position to the House.

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