Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies for their contributions. The saving on substitution costs is a once-off and not a basis on which we could fund a pay increase in the longer term. There is always an estimating element in deciding different issues and, as we see, superannuation and substitution costs are particularly hard to forecast. Just because there is a saving in one subhead does not mean that we can change pay levels that are negotiated centrally. The central negotiation of pay levels takes place within the Lansdowne Road agreement. We have used the flexibility within the agreement to make provision for new entrant teachers, an issue on which we negotiated with the TUI and the INTO. At the same time, in this school year which started in September provision was made for an extra 2,260 teachers. Provision is being made for an extra 2,400 teachers next September. We always have to balance the appetite for pay increases with the need to invest in services. Deputies will know that a lot of the money went to services with a particular priority, including special educational needs and so on. It is a balancing act. I was happy to be able to sit down with the trade unions and negotiate not just on new entrant pay levels but also in other areas such as permanency and flexibility in the use of Croke Park agreement hours, as well as dealing with other issues that are important to teachers. It is important that we have a well motivated teaching force and respond to pressures that are emerging.

On the increase in the construction budget, the original provision was smaller than in the previous year and the increase is necessary in the context of pressures that are emerging. It is not late; it was flagged much earlier in the year when I attended a meeting of the previous committee. It is not something that is happening at the last minute or an indication of bad planning. We were able to release a block of school projects in April and October. That shows that the Department's planning approach is delivering a consistent flow. The number of schools at which construction work is taking place on site is largely the same as it was last year. The increase in costs in the past two years is in the order of 35%. Deputy Thomas Byrne is right that there is pressure on costs as we see a recovery in the construction sector.

The allocation for minor works grants came to €28.5 million. I understand it has been paid out; therefore, it is gone.

Deputy Thomas Byrne mentioned that in the programmes school projects were described as due to go to construction. When flagged, it may be a misnomer, but I understand it means that a process is due to start which will lead to tendering. If a project was included was in the 2015 programme, it did not mean that it would go to construction in 2015.