MORE than €27 million given to Vocational Education Committees (VECs) for school sites and improving health and safety went unspent for up to three years, the Comptroller and Auditor General John Purcell has found.

TWO-thirds of primary schools opening their doors for the first time in September will offer multidenominational education in a reflection of growing demand for schools not run by the churches.

THE Government was accused last night by Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin of squandering the public wealth of the last decade which should have been used to improve school buildings, supports for immigrant children and reduce class sizes.

PUPILS are to be taught religion according to their own faith in State-run primary schools, the Department of Education revealed yesterday.

HUGE question marks still hang over government plans to establish the first primary schools under the patronage of a Vocational Education Committee next year.

The Department of Education is to open two new non-denominational primary schools in Dublin next September.