Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is in receipt of an appeal of the summer works programme decision in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Cork; if his attention has been drawn to the health and safety report attached that states certain rooms in the school will have to be closed off from the students if repair works are not carried out immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16564/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that a major capital project for the school to which he refers was included on a list of projects, which were announced on 24 January 2011, for which briefs will be formulated in 2011.

In the context of progressing the project, my officials will be in contact with the school authority shortly to arrange a site visit to the school, which is the next step required to formulate the accommodation brief. When this process has been finalised, the process of appointing a Design Team can commence.

I can confirm that the school applied to my Department for funding under the Summer Works Scheme 2011. Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand for funding under the scheme, it was not possible to grant aid all applications. As outlined in the Circular governing the operation of the scheme, applications for works in the higher categories of eligible works were prioritised and it was not possible to include the school referred to by the Deputy in the list of 453 successful schools that was announced on 30 March 2011 and in the further list of 374 schools that were successful under the Jobs Initiative. The school has been advised accordingly.

My Department's priority is to advance the capital project at the school and it is intended that the works which were the subject of the Summer Works application will be dealt with in the context of this project. For works that are of a very urgent nature that cannot await the completion of the major project, it is open to the school authorities to consider if the works qualify for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme. An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action and, in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening. Details of the Scheme, together with an application form for grant assistance, can be accessed on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy applied for funding under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme. A list of 453 successful schools was announced on 30 March 2011. Applications from schools for gas, mechanical and electrical works were prioritised under the Summer Works Scheme funding this year and I regret that the application made by the school in question was not selected. A letter to this effect has issued to the school.

In light of further funding being made available under the Government's Jobs Initiative, projects submitted under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme were considered further. Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand for funding, it was necessary to further prioritise categories of works in respect of access for all, toilets, roofs and post primary school windows projects. I regret that the application referred to above was also unsuccessful under the Initiative.

Details of all successful schools under both initiatives may be viewed on the Department's website, www.education.ie.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the provision of a permanent site and building for a school (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16574/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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On foot of a request from my Department the Office of Public Works identified a suitable site for the school referred to by the Deputy. However given the sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this point in time. The acquisition of the site and the delivery of the school building project will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally.