Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have raised the issue of devolved grants with the Department at previous meetings of the committee and was told that guidelines were in place to ensure the issue of sustainability was considered in spending money on extensions and so forth. I ask the INTO to comment on this issue because I have heard from several schools that they have not been given much guidance in this regard. "Prerequisites" is probably a better term than "guidance". Are there prerequisites, for example, in the context of the funding of €300,000 to replace three or four prefabs with permanent classrooms? Are there sustainability-related terms and conditions attached to the draw down of such funding? Obviously, value for money is important, but so too is sustainability which also relates to teaching and learning methods. Schools should be wired to meet future needs and so forth. Several school principals have told me that they do not receive guidance on such matters from the Department. I emphasise the difference between guidelines and prerequisites in this regard. Boards of management also have a role to play in this regard. While I accept that they are voluntary, schools deserve strong boards. Talent should be available to schools from the body of parents and this talent should be used to make sure schools have good energy efficiency policies in place. It should not be left up to teachers who must receive support from boards of management. I ask the Department and the INTO to comment on this issue.