Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy O'Brien for his comments. This is an issue that will be dealt with during the budgetary process. All public representatives recognise the value of these schemes for schools and understand only too well the amount of work that can be done under them. Unfortunately I cannot give the Deputy any definite undertaking on it at the moment because we have not begun the detailed budgetary process but I fully understand the value of the schemes in question. More than 700 projects have been approved under the 2014 summer works scheme, with a total projected expenditure of almost €71 million. That money has not all been spent yet - invoices are still coming into the Department.