Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 827: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the safety initiatives she has taken in terms of road signage, lighting, traffic calming and reduced speed limits with regard to the need to secure the safety of children attending a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9911/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The issue of road safety measures outside the vested site areas of schools, such as road signage, traffic calming measures etc., would be a matter that should be raised in the first instance with the relevant Local Authority.

Local Authorities have the power to decide on road safety measures outside schools and should ensure that measures are in place to protect the safety of local school children.

Individual school authorities are responsible in the first instance for health and safety issues within the school site. Primary school authorities may use their minor works grant to deal with urgent issues. 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 health and safety 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 €58 million is allocated to the Summer Works Scheme, involving over 790 individual projects at 640 schools.

The school in question should contact the School Building Section of my Department regarding any on site health and safety work requiring significant funding.