Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a discretionary grant, not a permanent one and is not part of the first call on a capital budget. As the Deputy recognised, it has not been paid every year. Nonetheless, I recognise the point he has made and am very keen that as we shape our ten-year long-term capital plan schemes such as this would become a permanent fixture and I will be putting that case to the Government. However, I have to manage the budget available to me as prudently as possible in order to deliver the needs of the education system. The Deputy knows, as do all Members, that during the crash capital budgets dropped to one third of what they were, which has put pressure on meeting demands in an area such as this wherein there are increasing needs in terms of demographics, special education and so on. A balance must be struck and I believe that my decision is reasonable and I am accomodating the needs of all stakeholders in the system as best I can.

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