E387m to be divided in school building programme

THOUSANDS of families will be hoping Education Minister Noel Dempsey gives an early Christmas present to their children’s school when the 2004 building programme is announced today.

The E387 million Mr Dempsey has to spend is E40 million up on this year’s allocation.

Of 3,300 primary schools, the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) says more than 400 are in urgent need of replacement or complete refurbishment.

The National Parents Council (primary) is hoping that all schools with health and safety problems will be given immediate attention. Chief executive Fionnuala Kilfeather said priority should also be given to schools without adequate space or facilities to provide the full primary curriculum.

The programme published this morning will include details of spending on the Summer Works Scheme announced by Mr Dempsey last week. It aims to give funding to primary and second-level schools for electrical and mechanical improvements, repairs, extensions and other work which can be carried out during summer holidays.

The second-level schools budget only increased by 1% to E167 million in the Government’s spending estimates, but teachers and boards of management are hoping some of the extra E30 million for schools in the Budget will also come their way.

The second-level funding detailed today is likely to include part of the 12.5 million promised by Mr Dempsey to upgrade science labs in schools providing the new Junior Certificate syllabus.