The government is being slammed for failing to fund schools which need vital improvement work.

Fianna Fáil said schools across the country will now be forced to find the money to pay for essential upgrade works.

Spokesperson on Education, Charlie McConalogue TD, said Minister Jan O'Sullivan is reallocating €35m from the primary budget to third level spending.

Deputy McConalogue commented: "The Summer Works Scheme provides money for small and medium scale building works such as gas, electrical and mechanical works, roof and window upgrades, structural improvements; works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings. However Minister O'Sullivan has decided to allocate money, which could have provided for the scheme, to third level capital projects.

-- Advertisement --

"The scheme was scrapped in 2012 by then Minister Ruairi Quinn and has never been put on a permanent footing. In the run up to the local elections last year, he allocated €70 million towards the Minor Works Grant and the Summer Works Scheme, and despite an underspend in education this year, Minister O'Sullivan has decided to ignore this important primary programme and redirect the excess money to third level projects.

"It is clear that the Government is adopting a different approach to primary level funding when it is no longer under immediate electoral pressure and has chosen to prioritise third level spending over essential primary allocations."

(CD/JP)