Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

The Minister of State will be aware of the problems affecting a number of schools in the Dublin 15 area. I, therefore, condemn the cuts to the school building programme this year. Spending on the programme is to increase by 4%, which is less than the rate of inflation in the building industry. In addition, the 1% increase in the lower rate of VAT will affect the programme. The increase will be wiped out by inflation and the additional VAT. It means that many more schools will wait longer for work to be done while those a long time on the list will have to continue waiting. The Minister of State will be aware that in the Dublin 15 area representations were made to all the general election candidates from Scoil Thomáis, Laurel Lodge and the Sacred Heart School, Huntstown, which has several prefabricated buildings. I hope they will be included in this year's programme.

How long are schools expected to remain in prefabricated accommodation? When funding is granted to new schools, many of them initially rely on prefabricated buildings to be replaced in perhaps a further five years. That does not make good economic sense. It would be better to adequately fund the schools in order that they can have a permanent structure. The Educate Together school is located in a prefabricated building, as is a school in Clonee, where I hope work will commence in the coming year.

Many schools are in a condition we should not expect our children to put up with. Some teachers conduct their classes in corridors or the principal's office. That is not a very proud record to stand over.