Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

The denomination of such schools is of little interest to me. However, these schools receive taxpayers' money on the double. They are in receipt of the €80 million pot earmarked by the Department for private post-primary schools. Would the Minister consider deducting from that contribution of taxpayers' money to them an amount equivalent to the money they receive under the tax exemption scheme? I accept this is a matter for the Minister for Finance and it should be examined as part of the tax review. However, such schools are receiving money on the double from taxpayers. Would the Minister consider using the money thereby saved by the Department, for example, to reinstate the summer works scheme? The Minister knows as well as I do about the considerable number of schools waiting for significant funds. Stonetown school in my constituency is seeking funding for a roof, Louth village school is seeking a toilet replacement and Termonfeckin school has asbestos on the roof. These schools and many others throughout the country are depending on the summer works scheme to have the works carried out. Will the Minister consider allocating a sum of money equivalent to that which schools are receiving by way of the charitable status tax exemption?

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