Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 760: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there are grants available to provide closed circuit television cameras for a school (details supplied) where ongoing damage is being caused to the property and to teachers' cars; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9460/07]

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

Individual school authorities are responsible in the first instance for health and safety issues, including making adequate security arrangements, at schools. School authorities should liaise with their local Gardaí who are best placed to provide practical advice and support and to make recommendations on how best to mitigate the potential risk to the school.

Primary school authorities may use their minor works grant in conjunction with any insurance policy payments arising from damage claims to deal with urgent issues relating to security matters. In November last I increased funding for the minor works grant by 44% on the previous year and around €27m was paid out to primary schools throughout the country to enable thousands of small scale works to be completed without the need to interact with my Department.

Other avenues for grant-aid from my Department to provide improved security measures include the Summer Works Scheme and Emergency Works Grants. In 2007, of the €306 million available to improve infrastructure in primary schools, close to €58million is allocated to the Summer Works Scheme.

The Building Unit of my Department has no record of any application for funding for security cameras from this school under the Emergency Works Grant or Summer Works Scheme. However, I have arranged for an application form to be issued to the school for completion and return.