1389 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a five foot section of cast iron guttering crashed from the roof of All Saints boys school, Blackrock, County Dublin on 18 January 2002 into the playground and that if this gutter had fallen minutes earlier several children could have been injured; the reason this school has been allowed to deteriorate into such a dangerous state; if all essential repairs will be carried out urgently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2739/02]

The allocation for primary buildings in 2002 is 153.6 million, which is a record level of funding and demonstrates this Government's commitment to improving accommodation in primary schools. This is almost four times the previous Government's investment in 1997. In view of the greatly increased level of activity in the primary buildings area since this Government came into office, there has been a substantial increase in the number of major and minor building projects in construction and this has given rise to a record level of building and refurbishment activity.

All Saints boys school, Blackrock is being refurbished as part of the Government's programme as is currently in architectural planning. The project will proceed to the preparation of tender documents and the invitation of tenders, as soon as it is possible to do so, under the expanded building programme.

Health and safety issues are the responsibility, in the first instance, of the board of management of the school. My Department gives an annual devolved grant to all primary schools which is intended to cover essential repairs such as those referred to by the Deputy. It is a matter for the board to prioritise the expenditure of this grant so that urgent health and safety issues are dealt with immediately