Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy. We on this side of the House would like to spend much more money on schools, and we tried as best we could during the tough years to ensure that funding for education was protected and prioritised over that for other Departments. An additional €60 million has been allocated in the budget for education this year, because we recognise that, but it will only keep pace with demographics. We agree that we would like to have more money for the summer works scheme projects, but we do not have it at present. We have made and will continue to make a case for it. We are always chasing up extra money for resources. We recognise that it would be well spent, that it would be spent locally and that it would also provide jobs; there is no doubt about that. I agree with the Deputy that the arguments for it are very clear. The key point is that, unlike in other years, the applications are being kept open and, where funding for applications under categories 7 to 10 was not available, those applications are being kept on file and will be prioritised as money becomes available. That is a fair commitment. We would like and hope to get more money at some stage, but it would be wrong to say that we can open up the next round of the summer works scheme when there are still applications on file under categories 7 to 10.

There is no doubt that education is very important, but the number of young people coming through education is growing every year. It was good this year, in terms of funding, to have been able to keep up with demographic change, but it is about providing additional accommodation first. That must be the priority, and summer works, essential repair works and minor repair works, in respect of which there have been some announcements, will be kept up as well. The priority has always been to make sure that places are available for new people coming into the system, of whom there have been quite a number in recent years. That has been a fair challenge for the Department of Education and Skills. We recognise that education is one of the most important areas and that the Department must be funded.

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