Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 30 September 2015

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection

Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills

1:00 pm

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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My question is related to the point made by Deputy Joan Collins about outputs and I had intended to make it at the end of the previous round. I refer to the issue of patronage, that is, point 11. I believe the outputs were marked as being not available for this year. At the beginning of the tenure of the former Minister, Deputy Quinn, he indicated his hope that 50% of schools would change their patronage during his term of office. I would have imagined that a figure should have been given on the number of schools the Department would like to see changing patronage. Obviously polls were carried out in 32 areas and I ask the Minister to comment in this regard. She should clarify how many changes have been achieved thus far. Does she have a figure in mind as to what she would like to be achieved? The Minister indicated she expects a Supplementary Estimate Vote may be required by the end of the year. What is the current position? When the budget was set last year, no budget line was included for the minor works grant for schools. Where does that now stand and can the Minister commit at this point to paying a minor works grant this year?