Seanad debates
Friday, 4 July 2003
Adjournment Matters. - Schools Refurbishment.
10:30 am
Joanna Tuffy (Labour)
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I raise the issue of Scoil Áine in Clondalkin as I have been contacted by parents concerned about the necessary repairs to classrooms in the school. The school has been the subject of a report of the Health and Safety Authority. Parents are concerned that if the school does not soon get funding to carry out the repairs it could be liable to prosecution. A local newspaper recently mentioned that funding had been approved and I raise this Adjournment Matter to establish the position.
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senator for raising this matter. As I said in response to the previous matter, the Minister has published the list on the website and information is available as to how selections are made. Scoil Áine and Scoil Íde both share the one school site. The buildings were constructed in the early 1970s. Each school consists of a separate two-storey structure and both share a general purpose room. Scoil Áine and Scoil Íde also share a heating system.
In view of the problems with the heating system at the schools, I am pleased to inform the Senator that the Department of Education and Science has recently agreed to provide grant aid towards a major refurbishment of the heating system. The school authorities were authorised to invite tenders for this project. Subject to the outcome of the tendering process, it is anticipated that the refurbishment works will get underway shortly. This project is being funded from the contingency sum for emergencies that was included in the building programme. I also add that the Department has also approved grant aid for some small-scale roof repair works at Scoil Áine in this year's programme.