Sinn Féin claims more schools could be developed in Ireland if the Government availed of the flexibility within the fiscal rules for capital spend.

Spokesperson on Education and Skills, Carol Nolan, welcomed the additional €100 million being invested in school building projects for 2016. However, she said there is flexibility to increase capital investment in schools.

She said: "The Minister confirmed that the additional capital spend in education for 2017 will be €95 million, €51 million of which has been allocated to Public Private Partnership costs.

"Under the Minister's projections there will be 42 building projects commenced next year in comparison with the 60 currently on site for 2016.

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"The Minister's brief states that the construction programme will provide for a further 62,000 additional places despite the fact that 104,000 pupils are expected to enter the system across first and second level education up to 2019.

"The brief also warns that projects may need to be rescheduled due to funding constraints, which may lead to the continuance of temporary accommodation and approval of additional temporary accommodation.

"The fiscal rules allow for capital spend to be smoothed over four years, meaning that there is flexibility there to increase capital investment in schools.

"The Minister has confirmed that this is something that the Government will be considering within the Capital Review for 2017 but many of the schools and communities that are in dire straits will find little comfort in this.

"They are crying out for investment now and the government should have utilised the flexibility that is available to them in order to invest in vital education infrastructure."

(CD/LM)