Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 214 of 23 October 2012 and 92 of 23 January 2013; if he outline in his reply specifically if there are grants available to DEIS schools to purchase scientific equipment for fitted school laboratories; the amount of money available; if there is a programme of grants available for such a purpose in view of the fact that it is impossible to find anything on the website www.education.ie referred to in a previous response; if he will further outline specifically in his reply the way a school without scientific equipment is meant to teach scientific subjects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4409/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that the school concerned received funding in the amount of €184,830 under the Summer Works Scheme 2010 for the upgrade of three Science Laboratories. This sum included for fitted furniture and equipment for the upgrade of the three Science Laboratories. In the past my Department provided periodic grants for science laboratory equipment in schools. However, given the need to focus on meeting the demand for additional school places, it is unlikely that funding would be available for such purposes in the coming years. However, given the concerns expressed by the Deputy on recent occasions about this school, I have asked my officials to contact the school authority directly about the matter raised.