1,000 schools to get revamp but 300 denied funds [Irish Examiner]
- Published: 08 May 2009
Source: Irish Examiner
Friday, May 08, 2009
ALMOST 1,000 schools have been approved to have building works carried out during the summer holidays ; nearly two years after they applied.
But Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe has denied 206 primary and 110 second-level schools funding, leaving them with bills of up to €7,000 for getting their applications in order.
The summer works scheme (SWS) was set up in 2004 to allow non-emergency building and repair works be carried out during the months when children are on holidays.
Almost 1,300 schools submitted applications in September 2007 for projects the next summer, but then Education Minister Mary Hanafin announced three months later that there would be no 2008 scheme because of restrictions on her building budget.
While 967 of those schools have been cleared for work to go ahead, 316 were not successful.
Figures released to the Irish Examiner under the Freedom of Information Act last summer showed that more than €1 million was paid by schools in fees to builders and architects who prepared their applications.
While schools approved yesterday will have the fees reimbursed, those who were not will have to pay the bills (from €2,500 to €7,000), themselves or raise the money through parents.
Ferdia Kelly, general secretary of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB), representing the boards of management of 392 second-level schools, said: "This is another burden on top of budget cuts meaning that one-third of each school's income will have to be raised locally next year."
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) said the €80m fund would only allow the Government play catch-up with the building needs of schools.
"After a decade of record Government income, it shows that 204 schools need proper windows, 135 need modern sanitary facilities, 114 schools need safe electrical systems and 139 schools need decent roofs," said INTO general secretary John Carr.
Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe's spokesperson said greater value would be achieved with the funding as more than 1,180 small and medium scale projects would be carried out, whereas the €119.5m 2007 scheme funded 1,125 projects. He said schools should be able to get contractors to begin work in June.
