Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

Since its introduction in 2004 the summer works scheme has been a key component of the programme of funding maintenance and smaller scale capital works in schools. More than 3,000 projects costing in excess of €300 million have been completed under the scheme since 2004. With such a large number of projects completed in the past few years, the particular emphasis in 2008 was on providing sufficient school places in developing areas, while also continuing the Government's commitment to delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country. Therefore, my Department focussed on delivering as many large-scale projects as possible in 2008 and for this reason there was no summer works scheme this year. However, as I have already confirmed, it is my intention to have a summer works scheme in 2009. The applications for the summer works scheme, which my Department has already received from schools for the 2008 scheme will be assessed for 2009. The professional and technical reports provided by schools for 2008 can be used again for future projects in order that schools will not be at a loss of expenditure on those reports.