Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The practical difficulty is that we have over 3,000 schools. It would be very difficult to assess the individual annual running costs for each school which is why we have a capitation grant system. We try to address the concerns of older schools, and schools with particular problems, through summer works and emergency works. For example, replacing windows and roofs, or other structural issues that may arise in schools, are generally addressed in that way.

It is probably true to say that newer schools are more cost-effective in terms of energy needs. We have been trying to upgrade schools and replace pre-fabs with new buildings but that is a work in progress. I will be fighting for as much funding as I can get in the next budget to ensure that we have money to do these things.

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