Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

-----and we all know there is a huge amount of work going on throughout the country. The Minister gave approval for the minor works grant. That was a matter of concern to people throughout the country. School principals spoke to me about the importance of the minor works grant and I believe the Minister notified them last week that the grant would be paid for the year 2011-12, which I welcome.

My reading of the public capital programme is that there may not be a summer works or emergency works scheme. The Minister and I debated in the past the value to the taxpayer of the summer works and minor works schemes. I ask him to ensure that provision is made for the summer works and minor works schemes because all of us as public representatives, and the school community in general, have seen an excellent outturn for that State investment. I have seen schools being refurbished and extended under the summer works scheme with a relatively small amount of grant aid. Those schemes have given a terrific return and I appeal to the Minister to continue those schemes if at all possible.

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