Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a lack of adequate disabled access facilities at a college (details supplied), that there is no lift or escalator for ease of access from the third to fourth floor, that there is no wheelchair friendly toilet facility at the campus; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that students with disability needs are dissuaded from attending the college; and the plans he has to rectify the situation. [39679/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department has no record of having received an application for the works referenced by the Deputy. However I wish to advise the Deputy that the College, referred to by him, has received substantial funding from my Department in recent years. In 2006, €205,910 was provided to the College in question under the Summer Works Scheme 2006 for improvement works to facilitate disabled access. In addition, the College has also benefited from significant funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme - in 2009, a grant of €364,612 was provided to upgrade the Electrical System as well as €542,640 in 2010 for Roof Works.

It is open to the facility to consider if it qualifies for grant under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme. The purpose of the Scheme is solely for unforeseen emergencies or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for special needs pupils. 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 are available on the Department's website www.education.ie