Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make a point about the increasing tendency of Ministers not to be here for questions on promised legislation. It is a very useful slot but the absence of Ministers makes it a lot less effective. Many Ministers can be here for Leader's Questions but then seem to find that they are busy during questions on promised legislation. That is something that I would ask both the Ceann Comhairle and the Cabinet to examine.

My question relates to the announcement today regarding the summer works scheme, which comes only seven to eight weeks before the end of the school year. The scheme is very welcome and is much needed by schools across the country, with the average grant amounting to just over €100,000. However, the Department is now asking school principals to arrange tenders and quotes for work to be carried out in July and August with only seven to eight weeks' notice, which is entirely unnecessary. I ask the Minister to commit to revising the process for next year. I also ask him to explain why his Department unnecessarily puts that administrative burden on school principals, boards of management and also on the contractors who will be bidding for the work.

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