Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will reassess the grant provided to a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31266/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the expansion of the devolved scheme for primary school building works, a grant of €440,000 was sanctioned to enable the management authorities of the school in question to provide additional accommodation.

The initiative allows board of management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives boards control of the building project.

It is not my Department's intention to increase the level of the grant offered to schools participating in the devolved scheme because a central tenet of the scheme is that the schools, granted discretion and funding, must equally accept responsibility for prioritisation, adherence to statutory regulations, control of costs and ensuring value for money.

The intention of the scheme is to provide funding to schools to enable them to undertake wanted building projects. The scheme is not intended to leave schools with significant fund-raising needs but for the school to tailor the scope of capital works commissioned to the available funding. The decision on whether to continue participating in the scheme or to drop out, if the scope of build is more than the funding envelope permits, is a matter for each school authority.

An appeal has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy requesting an increased grant. The appeal will be examined and a decision conveyed to the school management as soon as possible.