Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amounts allocated to the summer works programme in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011; the way the decision was made to switch scarce resources away from the programme in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32538/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The amount allocated to the Summer Works Scheme for 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 is as follows:

2008 €17,671,776

2009 €103,442,641

2010 €131,599,673

2011 €84,331,234

The emphasis in 2008 was on providing sufficient school places in developing areas, while also delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country. Accordingly, funding was not made available for a Summer Works Scheme in 2008. There was, however, expenditure of €17.67m in 2008 on the basis of commitments arising from Summer Works Schemes in previous years.

As outlined in the Five Year Plan last March and in view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet significant demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The Five Year school building programme is focused on meeting those demographic needs.

In the context, therefore, of the financial constraints imposed by the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential school accommodation, it is not possible for me to advance with a summer works programme this year.