Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and acknowledge the constraints under which he is working. Will there be a minor works grant for schools before Christmas? The principals and boards of management need to know that because otherwise they need to look elsewhere for funds. As we head into December, schools need to have enough money to pay insurance, heating bills, ancillary staff, electricity, fire alarms and so on. They are unsuccessfully trying to manage on a shoestring. To have to jump from one grant to another, never quite sure when the next one might land in the bank account, if, from what the Minister is saying, it happens at all, is no way of running finances. I ask that the Minister seek to guarantee that the yearly minor works grant would be made mandatory and end the practice of making this essential funding dependent on leftover capital that may be available in the Department.

Furthermore, the Department needs to carry out an audit of what it costs boards of management to run their schools and provide a realistic level of funding for minor works grants and capitation grants. The use of the word "grant" should be removed because this funding, as I said, should be mandatory and is part of the necessary expenditure for running a school.

Will a grant for minor works be issued before Christmas or is the Minister fearful it will not? If the answer is in the negative, schools need to be informed.

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