Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1293: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will authorise the requested increase to the grant for an additional classroom for a school (details supplied) in County Wexford, taking into account the fact that the lowest tenders are 50% in excess of what has been approved and the way in which the school is to meet such a large shortfall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1582/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As part of the expansion of the devolved 2005 scheme for primary school building works, a grant of €100,000 was sanctioned to enable the management authorities of the school in question to provide one additional permanent classroom.

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

My Department does not intend increasing the amount of the grant offered to the school. This is because a central tenet of the devolved scheme is that the school, 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 building is more than the funding envelope permits, is a matter for each school authority.