Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 5: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the contents of reports from the Health and Safety Authority, the risk assessment report and the Health Service Executive report on the conditions at a school (details supplied) in County Galway, he will sanction the provision of a new school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44585/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school building was received in April from the school referred to by the Deputy. This was the first such application from the school. On foot of it and information supplied by the school regarding its condition, officials from the planning and building unit of my Department visited the school in June. Consequently, €26,862 was sanctioned to carry out remedial works to the school.

In November, the school invited the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, to inspect the building. The HSA inspector served an improvement notice on the board of management directing that "a new safety statement based on site-specific risk assessment must be compiled by a competent person and implemented at this place of work". It is the responsibility of individual school management authorities to have an up-to-date safety statement in place in their schools. Following receipt of the HSA report, my Department has sanctioned funding for the school to engage a qualified health and safety consultant to survey it and to assist the school authority in compiling an up-to-date safety statement.

The school principal also invited the department of public health of the HSE to inspect the school. A copy of the report of the HSE representative who visited the school was forwarded to my Department in mid-November. The report advised that one classroom should be temporarily closed due to evidence of damp penetration and fungal growth. I understand that the fungal growth has been safely removed and that the classroom is back in use.

The school, which has a current enrolment of 49 pupils, is situated in a rural area. As such, it would have been a suitable candidate for the small schools scheme, introduced by my Department in 2003. The scheme was targeted at small rural schools and provided funding for more than 730 such schools around the country. One of the key principles of the scheme was that responsibility for project management was devolved to individual school authorities for the purposes of refurbishing and-or extending existing buildings in order to address the schools' long-term accommodation needs. However, my Department has no record of having received an application under the scheme from this school.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Department records show that, in the past five years, the school received €33,917 under the grant scheme for minor works to national schools. Works that can be covered under this scheme are improvements to school buildings and grounds, the improvement or replacement of mechanical and electrical services, the purchase of standard furniture and physical education equipment, the purchase of floor covering and window blinds and the purchase of IT-related equipment. My Department has been in contact with the school regarding the use of these funds.

My Department is in ongoing contact with the school regarding its needs. The Deputy will be aware that I requested officials from my Department to visit the school. A member of the inspectorate and officials from my Department's building unit are arranging to visit the school on Thursday, 11 December. In light of the many competing demands on my Department's capital budget, it is not possible to give any commitment relating to the provision of a new building for the school at this time.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. On behalf of the board of management, parents' association, staff, students and community, I wish to put two important facts on the record. The new board of management was established in November 2007 and the principal was appointed in September 2007. They cannot take responsibility for anything that occurred beforehand. The Department's request concerning moneys and grants spent is irrelevant.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy should ask a question.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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All that is required is help in responding to the matters highlighted by the Minister. I will show him a picture of the classroom——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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That is not in order.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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——closed by the HSE and subsequently analysed with the help of NUI Maynooth. The HSA's preliminary report will be ready next Thursday.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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A question, please.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I welcome this morning's decision that senior departmental officials will visit the school in the coming week but people want a replacement school because of the danger involved. The physical deterioration of the school cannot be exaggerated. None of the reports is scaremongering; they highlight the reality of what the children and staff must bear. The remedial work carried out was to stop slates from blowing off and injuring people. As well——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I will call the Deputy again.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will understand that the letter to the school needed to be sent through the Secretary General, who is subject to the Comptroller and Auditor General. Some €33,917.44 was provided between 2003 and 2007. According to the information to hand, only €19,000 can be accounted for, leaving a potential balance of €14,610.

During the 2007-08 school year, a new security camera was purchased for €3,500. During the 2006-07 school year, €384.53 was spent on minor works. It is appropriate that my Department ask the pertinent question of the school, namely, where did the balance go and, if there is such a deficiency in the school, why was the minor works money not used to upgrade it in the appropriate manner. It would be inconsistent of us to do otherwise.

The situation begs another question. Why did the school only make an application in April 2008 for a new school to be built? Considering the area's topography, there are five small schools therein, some comprising approximately 14 pupils or fewer than 20 pupils. In these circumstances, it is appropriate for me as Minister to ask what opportunities for amalgamation of those small rural schools are available.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I want the Minister to understand the situation, namely, a new board of management and a new principal. I ask him to bear this fact in mind. They cannot take responsibility for the situation.

While expenditure on a security camera may not be seen as a priority in the Department's eyes, the school's dilapidated appearance led to a high degree of vandalism. That has since ceased. As a matter of urgency, I ask the Minister to consider an offer on the table. A new school would be built on site without any disruption and at no cost to the Department other than the cost of the lease. It could be done quickly.

The Minister mentioned he is considering a priority scheme. I hope this school will be afforded top priority within that scheme.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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If five small schools are situated within two miles of each other, it is appropriate to ask whether there is a possibility that they might amalgamate. We asked the board of management of the school in question to consider the possibility of an amalgamation. It is a matter for the board of management to decide whether such an amalgamation would be appropriate.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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On a point of information, is the Minister rowing back on the policy——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy should allow the Minister to complete his reply.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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——to the effect that rural national schools will not be closed?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am actually adhering to that policy. If a number of small schools are located in the same area, the first option we would consider is whether they might be amalgamated and whether improved facilities might be put in place. That is an appropriate and proper way to operate.

The application in respect of the school in question was received in April last. The board of management at the school is effectively stating that it wishes to jump the queue and have its application considered before any others. I will consider the position as it relates to the school. If the board of management indicates that it does not wish to become involved in an amalgamation, I will be obliged to examine the matter in that context and in light of all the other applications that have been received.