One-third of building funds gone, say teachers

ALMOST one-third of the €343 million school building budget announced by Education Minister Noel Dempsey is effectively spent already, according to teachers.

Of the 150 ‘large-scale projects’ Mr Dempsey said will be delivered in 2003, 123 are already under construction or are authorised to begin construction this year.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation said much of the spending is committed to projects already underway.