4. LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What investment has the Government made in Budget 2010 to build new schools and modernise others?
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) Link to this
Great news! Budget 2010 provides $349.3 million in new operating and capital funding over 4 years for school property. This includes funding for building new schools and improving existing school buildings, and comes on top of Government funding of more than $500 million as part of Budget 2009.
In 2010-11, $82 million will be spent on remedial work on leaky school buildings—$82 million. The Budget also provides $22 million over 2 years to help ensure that these repairs are progressed quickly and to survey high-risk buildings so that we can get a good handle on what work is left to do. The problem of leaky buildings has been well known for nearly a decade, but I was aghast to find how little work the previous Government did to get repairs started in the schooling sector. This Government will not be sitting on its hands while children sit in classrooms with water dripping on to their books.
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
Will Waikanae, on the Kapiti coast, be one of the sites where property is purchased for a new primary school as a result of Budget 2010?
The local member for the Ōtaki electorate is working very hard with me on the issues in Ōtaki. I will be keeping him informed.
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I asked the Minister a non-political question about a town not very far from here where there is population pressure. In my view, it needs a new primary school. I asked her about the Budget. I did not need to hear what conversation she is alleging she is having with one of her colleagues; I am just interested to know whether Waikanae might get a new primary school.
Mr SPEAKERUnder the circumstances, I invite the member to repeat his question so that everyone can hear it again.
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
Will Waikanae, on the Kapiti coast, be one of the sites where property is purchased for an additional primary school as a result of the money she announced in Budget 2010?
As I said in answer to that question, the local member for the Ōtaki electorate has been working very hard on behalf of his electorate. He and I will be making any announcements there might need to be made about school property in the future.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. It might be that you ask Mr Hughes to ask his question again and we get third time lucky. It was a very simple question. In the end there are a range of answers, but they go to “Yes”, “No”, or “I don’t know”. That one did not seem to go to any of those.
Hon Rodney HideI have to say that that answer was perfectly in order. The Minister was asked about a school in Waikanae. The Minister replied that she is in discussions with the local MP, as would be appropriate, and that the deliberations are ongoing and an announcement will be made in the short future. I cannot see how one could give a fuller answer ahead of a Government announcement. I know that it irks—
The member has done very well up until now. Does the Leader of the House wish to add to this consideration? No. In fairness to members, it is an interesting point. It was a very direct question, but in fairness I think the Minister said that the matter was under consideration and an announcement would be made when a decision was made. One cannot insist on a more precise answer than that.
The Government has set aside $40 million over the next 4 years to reduce surplus school property. The first target will be the removal of unsightly buildings from vacant school sites. These vacant buildings often attract vandalism and antisocial behaviour, causing much unnecessary distress to local communities. Their removal stops this and at the same time allows the Crown to save money through reduced maintenance and security costs.