Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, in the interest of the safety of students, staff and parents attending a school (details supplied) in County Galway he will provide funding for a school car park in view of the fact that a suitable site has been provided by the local dioceses. [41999/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The school referred to by the Deputy applied for works under the 2008 Summer Works Scheme.

Since the Summer Works Scheme was introduced in 2004, over 3,000 projects costing in excess of €300 million have been completed. With so many smaller projects having been completed over the past few years, the particular emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in developing areas, while also showing the Government's commitment to delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country. Accordingly my Department has focussed on delivering as many large projects as possible in 2008 and there is no Summer Works Scheme this year.

However, I recognise the benefits of the scheme in addressing the needs of schools and I have previously informed the house of my intention to have a Summer Works Scheme in 2009. The details of the operation of the scheme in 2009 and the level of funding to be made available under the scheme in 2009 are currently being considered.