Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 917: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if all second level schools in County Kildare are adequately equipped for the teaching of science subjects; the schools not so equipped; her plans to address the issue and to ensure that the most modern science teaching equipment is available in all schools in the county at an early date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15434/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Capital funding is being provided under the school building and modernisation programme 2006-2010 for the refurbishment of science laboratories undertaken as part of an overall refurbishment programme of second level schools, for the upgrading of science facilities exclusively or by provision of new facilities in the case of newly built or extended schools. Additionally I have provided for class materials, basic general equipment and chemicals for practical work for the sciences.

My Department spent in excess of €13 million in 2004 to facilitate the introduction of a revised junior science syllabus. Schools received a basic grant of €3,500 per science laboratory to enable them to provide the new curriculum. Additional funding was made available to schools where other specified equipment was required. In addition, certain schools identified as needing new or refurbished science laboratories as a result of a 1998 national survey also received funding. Funding is again available this year to schools which have yet to apply for the basic grant of €3,500 per science laboratory and for other specified equipment to enable them to provide the new curriculum.

Schools have also received funding under the summer works scheme in 2004 and 2005 to refurbish science laboratories. In the application for funding under the 2006 summer works scheme, post-primary schools were requested to identify specifically and provide details of any science and technology upgrade or refurbishment projects separate from any other projects being applied for so that consideration could be given to approving these projects for 2006. Following the processing of the 34 applicants in this category, 26 schools were approved to commence the upgrading or refurbishment of their science facilities under the 2006 summer works scheme at an estimated total cost of €5.7 million. The eight unsuccessful applicants comprised two large-scale projects already in architectural planning, two of which were converted to major projects as in addition to upgrading science laboratories major refurbishments were required throughout the school and four received funding for higher priority projects as identified by the schools themselves.

The provision of science facilities and equipment is in part the responsibility of individual schools and funding can only be considered where my Department receives applications in the first instance. It is not possible to outline the level of science facilities or equipment in all schools across a province, region or county but I will assist the Deputy with available information in respect of a particular school he may choose to nominate.