Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The more we continue down that route, the better. Apart from anything else, it is not a good thing for children to be in substandard temporary accommodation. It does not create the right frame of mind for children in terms of their learning experience.

I understand the summer works scheme and the minor works grants have been suspended because of financial constraints. As someone who has had experience with schools over many years, I know those funds were very useful for doing maintenance work in schools. I understand the way things are now, it is only in emergencies that such money is available. How are such emergencies defined? I have got some queries from schools on this issue.