The Education Minister has been slammed for scrapping the Essential Works Scheme for primary schools.

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Brendan Smith said hundreds of parents across Cavan and Monaghan will now be forced to pay for repair and upgrade works in their children's schools.

Deputy Smith commented: "The Summer Works Scheme provides important funding to carry out small and medium scale upgrade and improvement works such as gas, electrical and mechanical works, roof and window repairs and structural work to upgrade school buildings.

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"The Minister's decision to redirect funds, which would've covered the cost of these works for dozens of schools across the two counties, will result in teachers, management and parents having to find alternative ways of raising the cash.

"The scheme was scrapped in 2012 by then Education Minister Ruairi Quinn and has never been permanently restored. The scheme was approved ahead of the local elections in 2014, but now that the Government is no longer under immediate electoral pressure, Minister O'Sullivan has allocated this money to third level projects."

(CD/JP)