Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is probably more aware than anyone else on this committee of the value of the minor works and summer works schemes. When schools do not get minor work grants or qualify for the summer works scheme to do basic work on their premises, that feeds back into the cost of education because at the end of the day, somebody has to repair the heating or fix the roof and so forth. Inevitably, that cost falls back on parents. The minor works scheme was reinstated last year, having been cut previously and schools were very appreciative of that. I ask the Minister to bear that in mind in the context of the upcoming budget. There are knock-on effects from every budgetary decision the Minister makes and when schemes such as the ones I have mentioned are cut, the knock-on effect lands squarely on the shoulders of parents who are already being crucified with back-to-school costs. If the Minister is looking for ways to keep back-to-school costs down, enhancing the minor works and summer works schemes would be a valuable option in that regard.