Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Credit must be given where it is due. A sum of €640 million is being provided this year for schools alone. The Government will continue to examine how to provide priority investments in education in forthcoming budgets. We have always done that and it remains a priority area. However, there are varying levels of priority in the area. For example, no one contests that in rapidly developing areas a school must be provided while in other cases a school may need an extra prefab to deal with the extra intake, but the latter's level of priority cannot be as high as the case where there is no school and that is the prioritising that is taking place.

The contractual commitments for this year already account for €200 million. It comprises large-scale projects under construction at the start of the year. Projects are constructed under the permanent accommodation and small schools schemes and other commitments. There are projects commencing construction which will account for another €243 million. This problem is, therefore, being addressed significantly. Over €100 million is going into the permanent accommodation and small schools scheme this year. I do not accept there is indifference, inactivity or non-prioritisation of this matter in what is certainly a difficult year but one in which we must work within the budgets we have. The Government will continue to give priority to this important area.

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