I have been contacted by a number of schools in my constituency regarding further cutbacks in primary schools. Specifically, the Department of Education and Science, under the guise of a review, has not paid the minor works grant to primary schools. Already, many parents, teachers and pupils are reeling from the news that hundreds of primary schools throughout the country will remain in their rundown, dilapidated state for many years to come. I understand nearly 400 schools are listed as being at the architectural planning stage, which gives some idea as to the extent of the backlog in the primary schools building programme.
In addition to this already unacceptable situation, the Department has initiated a review which it has used as a means of withholding the minor works grant. The grant amounts to €3,800 per school, plus a payment of €12.70 for every pupil. I understand it is proposed that the Department will pay only the pupil element of the grant in May this year and will hold back on the €3,800 to every school.
Such a decision would affect all schools, but smaller schools would be worst hit. A school of 100 pupils would see a reduction in grant aid from €5,070 to just €1,270, in other words, a cutback of €3,800, a significant amount of money for a small school. The income of a large school with 500 pupils would decline to €6,350 from €10,150. Loss of income is substantial in both cases, but smaller schools, often in rural areas, will be hardest hit.
This money is paid to schools for the ongoing repair and upkeep of buildings which include painting, replacing windows or doors and the maintenance of playgrounds. If this money is not paid, health and safety issues which cannot be dealt with by many schools may well arise. The issue is serious and cannot be ignored by the Minister. Failure to undertake minor repairs creates a false economy as they quickly become major repairs if not attended to promptly.
The Minister is aware that many schools are waiting anxiously for this money. Some schools are operating in the red, paying interest to banks and waiting for the money to arrive just to balance their books. Other schools cannot plan for any repair work, no matter how urgent. If, for example, a school was to be painted in July, it would need to book a painter or decorator now. If many repairs are to be carried out during the summer, contractors would have to be notified and booked by now. Schools cannot do this and are, therefore, unable to plan.
The current position is untenable in 2003. The withholding of moneys schools are expecting and for which they have budgeted, is unacceptable. It does not matter which word one uses – cutbacks or adjustments – the end result is the same. The payment of the grant is in serious doubt. This kind of penny-pinching is undermining the capacity of schools to function effectively. I ask the Minister to immediately inform the boards of management of primary schools that the minor works grant will be paid immediately so that schools, instead of expending considerable energy trying to balance the books, can get on with their real business, namely, educating our young people.
