§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated cost of electrical rewiring to meet current safety standards for schools and colleges in the North-Eastern education and library board area.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe total estimated cost of electrical rewiring to meet current safety standards for schools and colleges in the NEELB area is not readily available and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. However, I understand that the NEELB commissioned a study which estimated that it would cost £16 million at 1987 prices to rewire all the board's properties (including schools and colleges) and maintained schools in its area.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals have been made and what funding 299W will be allocated to the North-Eastern education and library board to correct the hazards in schools brought to his attention in the consultant's report presented to the Department of Education in 1988.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Department of Education (Northern Ireland) allocated an additional £1.6 million to the north-eastern education and library board in the current financial year to supplement the normal maintenance programme financed from its block grant.
It is for the board to determine how these additional funds are used having regard to its own locally determined priorities.