Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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70. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his discussions with the Department of Education and Skills regarding what is described in a briefing document for the new Minister for Education and Skills as "woefully inadequate" capital funding for schools and regarding steps to address this funding crisis. [12499/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the assessment included in the briefing document referred to in the Deputy's question refers to the capital funding position for Third Level rather than capital funding for schools.

I am advised by my Department that the basis to the statement is that existing capital funding for third level is already committed to certain projects which is interpreted in the briefing as implying that that there would be no funding available for new projects in the Third Level sector, outside of PPP arrangements.

However, the Programme for a Partnership Government states that following the mid-term review of the Capital Plan which is expected mid-2017, capital investment in education will be increased in education, along with other priorities. In this regard, the Programme commits that the new Government will propose Oireachtas approval for a cumulative, additional €4billion in exchequer capital investment up to 2021.

The Programme for Government also states that following the publication of the Expert Group report on the Future Funding of the Higher Education Sector, the Government proposes that the relevant cross party Oireachtas Committee review its recommendations and outline a proposed funding plan for this sector. This would be expected to relate to both current and capital spending.