Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I have a quick question on capital. On page 11 it appears that the capital building programme has exceeded its budget, yet on page 79 it is stated the target is to build 50 schools this year, but only 14 have been completed at the end of September. Is there a budget to complete the other 36? There are many references to significant pressure on the capital budget, but in the programme for Government there is an intention to introduce physical education, PE, to the leaving certificate programme. Will there be a budget provision to review second level schools? I am aware of a school in my constituency that opened in 1980 but which still does not have a PE hall. Where is the equal access in that instance? How can it and other schools provide for PE classes? It is a case of putting the cart before the horse. The Minister must check that the schools have PE halls and proper PE facilities before the introduction of PE to the leaving certificate programme.

With regard to higher-level education, it is indicated on page 13 that universities and institutes of technology required the earlier payment of grants in 2016. Why was this? Why are the universities and institutes of technology underwater already? As Deputy Thomas Byrne said, third level cannot wait for us to debate the Cassells report. There is now a crisis and the chickens have well and truly come home to roost. How will the Government address this in the upcoming budget? Funding is needed now.

I noticed there is no budget to make progress on the junior cycle policy reforms. That is quite astounding. This is the major reform that is happening in second-level schools. The policy reform is actively happening so it is a problem if there is no budget to progress it. There is no budget for certain forthcoming initiatives, such as the Gaeltacht strategy. Will the budgets for these initiatives be found?