School capital projects
Deputy Coppinger challenged a €70 million cut to the education capital budget and asked whether local school building projects in Dublin West would proceed. The Taoiseach said they would all go ahead, explained that some were delayed by tendering or planning, and set out how capital spending remained possible despite the reduction.
I failed to get an answer on this issue. A €70 million cut in the capital budget for education was announced the day after the budget. As the Taoiseach knows well, approximately ten projects in Dublin West, and I am sure other Deputies know of others, are awaiting new school buildings or repair of school buildings. I refer to projects like Corduff national schools, Edmund Rice Schools Trust, the Blanchardstown secondary school, Pelletstown Educate Together and the Danu ASD special school as well as others requiring repairs. Will these projects go ahead? Where will the axe fall? Can the Taoiseach assure parents, teachers and the entire community, which is waiting for these new school buildings, that they are guaranteed to go ahead, as he and many others have promised those communities in past elections? We need clarity. I have put down this question for the Topical Issue matter all week and it seems that the Minister is not willing to answer it.
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I thank the Deputy. I am happy to answer it. They are going ahead. All the projects the Deputy mentioned will go ahead and I look forward to turning the sod on St. Patrick's national school in Corduff in the new year.
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Will that be after the election?
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It would already have gone ahead had the contractor who got the tender not pulled out but we have approached a second contractor and are ready to go in the new year. The same goes for the Edmund Rice Schools Trust but that does not have planning permission yet so that is the next step in respect of that particular project.
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That is two.
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The Deputy may ask how there can be a reduction in the schools capital budget and projects continue. I will explain how this comes about. The budget in 2016, when this Government took office, was €530 million. It was increased to €532 million in 2017. It was increased to €547 million in 2018. It was increased to €622 million in 2019 and it will be €620 million next year. That is a €2 million reduction. However, DIT has managed to sell the very large property at Kevin Street for €140 million whereas the guide price had been €60 million. Therefore, there is €80 million coming in from that transaction more than had been anticipated.