Written answers

Tuesday, 28 March 2006

Department of Education and Science

Schools Building Projects

11:00 pm

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 475: To ask the Minister for Education and Science, further to previous parliamentary questions, the reason for the delay in arranging an assessment of two school sites at Callan, County Kilkenny, relevant to the plans to proceed to amalgamate both schools; if she will expedite reports required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11915/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that on 13 January last, I outlined details of 62 schools which are being given the go ahead to proceed with major capital works such as new school building projects, extensions or refurbishment. The first key step for these schools is the appointment of the design team that will design and plan the works.

Technical visits are currently being carried out on these projects as part of this process. As soon as that series of technical visits is completed, officials in my Department will be in a position to proceed with other technical assessments such as the case of the two school sites in Callan referred to by the Deputy. My Department will be in direct contact with the school authorities in question when it is in a position to schedule a technical inspection of the buildings concerned.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a once off grant will be paid to a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny of €65,000 to cover the cost of the provision of extra accommodation which was part of the original school plan; if she will have the case reviewed and all aspects of the case examined with a view to approving the grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11916/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The school in question progressed a capital project without the approval or agreement of my Department. Retrospective funding was subsequently sought. Since the introduction of the school building and modernisation programme, it is not possible to consider applications for retrospective funding. Accordingly, the grant sought in this case was not approved.

The management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers has recently been in contact with officials in school planning section and has agreed to complete an application form for major capital works, Form SLE, as a first step towards assessing the school's infrastructural needs.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 477: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the cost of providing a third pre-fab classroom at a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be approved and awarded in view of the confirmation given to the school principal by her Department; if she will expedite a resolution to the issue. [11917/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers sought approval for four classrooms to accommodate a mainstream classroom teacher and three special education teachers. This was approved by way of rental of two full sized classrooms, 76 sq.m, one of which was to be sub-divided into three smaller rooms of 16 sq.m each to accommodate the special education teachers.

It subsequently transpired that the school proceeded, without sanction, to rent three full sized classrooms. Retrospective approval was sought for the third classroom and this was refused by my Department on the grounds that the school's accommodation requirements were adequately addressed within the original sanction. The school planning section of my Department did not sanction the rental of a third portacabin for September 2005. However, my Department has since approved the rental of two more mainstream classrooms for September 2006 to cater for the increasing enrolments at the school.

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 478: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress on the application for an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [11973/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy.

Additional information on the school's application has recently been received and an assessment of the school's long term requirements is under way in school planning section of my Department. When this assessment is completed, a decision will then be made on how best to meet the school's current and emerging accommodation needs.

The project is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2006-10.

Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 479: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will increase the resources for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12. [12001/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978-79 scheme for the employment of full-time secretaries and caretakers in primary schools, under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. This scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and no new posts are being created.

This scheme has been superseded by a more extensive grant scheme now referred to as the ancillary services grant. The ancillary services grant provides additional funding for primary schools towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services. The scheme is flexible in nature, giving boards of management discretion as to the manner in which secretarial and caretaking services are provided. The amount of grant paid to a particular school is determined by the enrolment in the school. The standard rate of grant per pupil under the scheme, which was increased from €102 in 2002 to €127 in 2004, was increased by a further €6 to €133 in 2005. The rate is being increased by a further €6 this year bringing the rate to €139.

The school referred to by the Deputy has been invited to participate in the school support programme under DEIS, delivering equality of opportunity in schools, and will qualify for additional human and financial resources under this programme.

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