Yesterday and today Deputies across the House, myself included, have been receiving phone calls from school principals who are very concerned that the minor works grant will not be paid by the end of this year. It is a crucial grant, amounting to €50 per student which, for a 100-student school, means €5,000.

If these schools do not receive it, they will have to ask parents for the money instead. It is absolutely unacceptable that the Government would stand over it. I ask the Minister for an update today on the status of this payment, and a commitment that the minor works grant will be paid to every primary school in the country before the end of this year.

I outlined the position to the Deputy's colleague, Deputy Declan Breathnach, yesterday. This is a grant that has been paid in most years but is not an automatic payment. The situation is that we are reviewing our capital budgets. There is huge pressure coming from the need to provide 20,000 additional places every year. The Department is reviewing the position to see what would be the timing that could be achieved for the payment of such a grant. Work is continuing at the Department. I am not in a position to make a clear statement at this stage.