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Northern Ireland Office

Answer

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many secondary schools in each education and library board area in Northern Ireland have been identified as having classrooms and other public areas containing asbestos; and what steps he is taking to ensure it is removed. [204664] Mr. Gardiner: The following table shows the number of secondary schools in each board area where asbestos in classrooms and other public areas has been identified to date. The programme of surveys has yet to be completed in the Belfast and the North-Eastern education and library boards. board Secondary Schools _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Board Number of schools where asbestos has been Number of schools that still have to be identified surveyed BELB 25 12 WELB 49 0 NEELB 16 16 SEELB 35 0 SELB 13 0 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. The Department of Education made £4.5 million available in 2003-04 to enable boards to carry out surveys of all schools and prepare for the introduction of the new asbestos regulations. In addition, £3.8 million has been allocated in the 2004-05 financial year towards removal, decontamination work or repair/remedial work, where this is necessary. It is only necessary to remove the asbestos if it in poor condition or at risk of being disturbed, otherwise the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) advice is to leave it in place and manage the risk.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

204664; 428 c1212-3W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Buildings Asbestos Health and safety Northern Ireland Schools Secondary education Repairs and maintenance

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk