Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I wish the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, and the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Haughey, well.

Much of what the Minister said would be fine were it not for the fact that the Department fails to recognise that the average debt of national schools throughout the country is €23,000. The content of the circular issued by the Department in response to the water charges issue, namely, that caretakers and cleaners should use proper mop buckets and provide push taps, would be laughable if it were not so serious. The reality is that there has been no indication from the Minister, in response to this question, as to how much the Department will provide to schools that go ahead with the suggested works and as to when it will provide it. There is no indication of the cost to schools of obtaining a separate water supply. When will the Minister provide additional funding to allow boards of management of schools to implement the suggestions in the circular? How much will he give the schools for this purpose?

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