Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

Does the Minister not accept that any independent commentator would come to the conclusion that she has a real problem with the allocation of funding she received from the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance? One need not be the smartest cookie in the class to realise that if one seeks €315 million, the amount referred to in the programme, and one receives less than one third of that amount in respect of educational services, it is not a good day at the office.

Deputy Hanafin is the first Minister for Education and Science in ten years to introduce swingeing cutbacks in the education budget. I refer specifically to the summer works scheme, which has effectively been abolished this year. Will the Minister provide a clear commitment to the House in respect of the devolved grant, about which her Department has been extremely quiet to date this year? Will the grant be in place for this year and when will schools be in a position to draw down funding under it?

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