Delayed school projects
Deputy Pringle criticised the halting of 58 school building projects and the lack of transparency about which schemes were affected, especially in Donegal. The Tánaiste said the matter would be resolved quickly and that most school projects remain on track for completion this year or early 2024.
It is three weeks since the Government's latest mismanagement of the State’s finances resulted in the halting of 58 schools building projects. Yesterday I received a pathetic reply to a simple question to the Minister for Education that asked her to list the projects and the costs. She could not or would not do it. Why the secrecy? Why not tell the people what the Government has done? I know it should be ashamed but what is it trying to hide from the Opposition on this?
The reality on the ground in County Donegal is that these knee-jerk and badly thought-out delays are going to cost a fortune. For example, the Gaelscoil in Donegal town has been told to stop after having appointed a clerk of works and a contractor with shovels about to go into the ground. If the delay continues, the contracted price will wither and the school will be faced with re-tendering in an inflation-driven market. You could not make this farce up. Parents, teachers and children in Donegal want to know when this project will be sorted-----
Comment on this
More than 300 school buildings projects were under construction at the start of the year and most of them will be completed this year or in early 2024. This includes more than 40 new school buildings. In addition, approximately €116 million was invested in more than 1,000 small-scale repair and improvement projects throughout the country under the summer works scheme and the emergency works scheme so there has been significant investment in construction. The Minister has been in advanced discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and I believe that will be resolved very quickly.