Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to take Mr. Loftus up on that. I contacted the former Minister, Deputy Bruton, on many occasions about having clerks of works on site. Particularly with traditional parish schools, as opposed to some of the new schools, one is relying on the chairman of the board, somebody on the board with some building knowledge and a couple of others to be the building committee. The principal is also involved. The principal may or may not have knowledge about, a taste for or interest in a building proposal. Consider the level of responsibility that still applies.

I have a few friends in Dublin West who are on committees for certain schools that are being built, refurbished and so on. To be honest, it is an incredible burden on them. Will the Minister outline a little further what the clerks of works are doing? I am sure he knows from his experience in County Donegal the burden placed on those in the schools governance structure in running effectively a €5 million to €12 million project. It is more than lay-people can often take on, but, in fairness to them, they do.