Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in view of his statement that the schools selected under the five year plan were prioritised on demographic needs if he will give details of the provision that has been made for schools not selected who were advancing in the process in which there was a basis of demographic need but whose facilities now pose a health and safety issue, in particular a school (details supplied) in County Cork who have completed stage 2b, they were not selected but have six portacabins and a waste treatment plant not fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30465/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The Stage 2(b) submission (Detailed Design) was submitted to my Department in May and is currently under review.

Schools which have not been included in the five year construction programme, but which were announced for initial inclusion in the building programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to the Department in future years.

However, due to the financial constraints imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements it has not been possible to advance all school building projects concurrently.

To ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of projects to meet the increasing demographic demands will be the main focus for capital investment over the next 5 years, particularly in those areas where it has been identified that most future demographic growth will be concentrated.

In the meantime, for works that are of a very urgent nature, it is open to the school authorities to consider if the works in question might 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