Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday and today Deputies across the House, myself included, have been receiving phone calls from school principals who are very concerned that the minor works grant will not be paid by the end of this year. It is a crucial grant, amounting to €50 per student which, for a 100-student school, means €5,000.

If these schools do not receive it, they will have to ask parents for the money instead. It is absolutely unacceptable that the Government would stand over it. I ask the Minister for an update today on the status of this payment, and a commitment that the minor works grant will be paid to every primary school in the country before the end of this year.

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