Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the situation in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 in which the two prefabs have been found to be rat infested and have been deemed unfit by a health and safety official; and if she will make a statement on funding which may be allocated to the school in view of its plight. [25381/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As outlined to the Deputy in my response to his Parliamentary Question dated 28 June 2006, the school to which he refers applied for additional accommodation to cater for increased enrolments. This application was refused on the grounds that my Department is satisfied that there is considerable spare capacity in neighbouring schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places. While this may result in pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice, this approach ensures that the use of existing accommodation is maximised and that the development and support of one school over others does not occur.

If there are problems with the standard of accommodation which might require replacement this is a different matter and my Department will be in contact with the school about this issue. With regard to a leaking roof, my Department has not been appraised of this situation. The scope of the works, however, is appropriate for consideration under the summer works scheme. It is noted that the school has never made an application for funds under this scheme. The 2007 summer works scheme was recently published. The closing date for the receipt of applications is 29 September next. The governing circular letter and the application form are available on my Department's website www.education.ie.