Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and her officials before the committee. What appears to be the most significant part of the Supplementary Estimates is the significant additional capital allocation of €517 million in respect of the schools building programme. I very much welcome the significant activity on the part of the programme, not just in my constituency but throughout the country. The Minister mentions in her statement that one of the reasons for this is the demand arising from the increase in our population and the expansion of housing. Has that just become more focused in recent years or is this something the Department had predicted?