James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me the opportunity to speak on this important issue in respect of Ardscoil Phádraig in Granard, County Longford, on whose behalf I have made numerous representations for some time. As the Minister of State is aware, a state-of-the-art sports facility had been built for the students of Ardscoil Phadraig and the people of Granard under the provisions of the dormant accounts fund.

However, the cement was not even dry when, to the great disappointment of the people of the area, water damage to the roof of the new hall meant that it could not be opened to the public. A problem has arisen with the flat section of the roof which resulted in water leaking into the building from outside. This setback was a major blow to the area as the people contributed to the development on the understanding that it would be open for public use.

This project has been a huge community effort in Granard, with grant aid received not only from the dormant accounts fund but also from Longford Community Resources Limited, various clubs and, as I previously stated, members of the public. Instead of being able to enjoy this new sporting facility, which should have been opened last April, water damage brought a new funding problem as €106,000 was needed for repairs. This was a heart-breaking blow for the community and the school.

However, I am delighted that representations have paid off and that pressure kept the Government on its toes. I welcome the outcome which means that the building unit of the Department of Education and Science is funding these essential repairs under the contingency fund provisions, which will, hopefully, cover the full cost of the repairs. In this, I know I am joined by the people of Granard who will be delighted with the news. I also take this opportunity to congratulate everyone in Granard associated with this project whose untiring work helped it to become a reality.

However, as the Minister of State is aware, there are other outstanding building issues in County Longford which urgently need completion in the interests of health and fitness. Chief among them is the Lanesboro Community College sports hall, which is urgently needed to provide a healthy, fitness-based educational facility for the pupils in Lanesboro. This school had a long struggle to gain necessary funding for the refurbishment of its built environment. In this case, like that in Granard, representations and the pressure brought to bear on the Department eventually resulted in a new and safe learning environment. However, the sports hall is still outstanding. I again thank the Minister for the positive response to the problems experienced by Ardscoil Phadraig and ask her to give similar consideration to Lanesboro at the earliest opportunity.

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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I extend apologies on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, who could not be here. I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the Department's current position regarding the allocation of funding under the emergency works grant scheme. The main purpose of the emergency works grant scheme is to ensure the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools that are 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 under the scheme elicits specific relevant information to enable a verifiable, speedy and equitable response to emergencies as they arise. Primary and post-primary schools requiring emergency works to be undertaken should apply under this scheme. The purpose of this scheme is solely for unforeseen emergencies. It is not intended that this scheme will be used to supplement previous applications under other schemes that have not been successful in securing funding. All relevant and supporting information in respect of an application must be provided in order to support a claim for emergency grant aid. All applications are dealt with on an individual basis.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school submitted an application for funding in respect of the roof works at the sports hall under the emergency works grant scheme and that a grant was approved on 16 October 2007 to cover these works. In addition, I am also pleased to inform the Deputy that under the dormant accounts scheme, Ardscoil Phádraig received grant approval for the provision of outdoor play facilities. I again thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the current position to the House.