More than £63 million of “urgent” or “essential” work is needed to bring Fife’s school buildings up to scratch, it has been revealed.
The revelations come just a few months after Keane Wallis-Bennett was crushed to death when a gym hall wall collapsed on her at Edinburgh’s Liberton High.
Cowdenbeath MSP Alex Rowley told Holyrood another £9.8 million of “desirable” work has also been identified by Fife Council, bringing the total school maintenance backlog costs to more than £72 million for the kingdom.
Minister for Learning Alasdair Allan said extra money was being provided to bolster the building of new schools in Fife.
Labour politician Mr Rowley told MSPs he had requested backlog costs from all 32 councils and the maintenance needs of the seven to reply so far totalled £481 million.
He said: “Does the minister not accept that our school estate right across Scotland is in dire need of investment and that there are many schools out there that need investment and need it now?
“Will he not accept some kind of responsibility and get into dialogue with the local authorities to look at what the maintenance needs are for our schools right across Scotland?”
Dr Allan replied by pointing out the maintenance of school buildings is a statutory responsibility of local authorities in Scotland and funding is provided in a block grant from the Scottish Government.
However, he also cited £19.4 million awarded by ministers for a new Auchmuty High School last year and a further £23 million to replace the Buckhaven and Kirkland high schools.
The SNP MSP added: “As the member is the former council leader in the area concerned, he will be more than aware that it is the statutory responsibility of Fife Council to maintain its schools.
“Under the 1980 act, it has never been the legal responsibility of this or any previous government to maintain schools.
“As I have indicated, this government has fulfilled our ambitions when it comes to building, rebuilding and refurbishing schools.
“I have mentioned two in Fife that I have had the pleasure of visiting.
“The member cannot escape the statutory responsibility of the council of which he was leader for maintaining buildings.”
Speaking outside the chamber, Mr Rowley said: “The Scottish Parliament is almost like a place where people get no responsibility for what is happening in the real world.”
A detailed breakdown of where the expenditure is needed was not available.