SSIA cash ‘could solve funding problems’

THE Government was encouraged yesterday to fully explore the possible future directing of money from the SSIA scheme into bond schemes, as it could provide a solution to a wide variety of funding problems.

But after Education Minister Noel Dempsey admitted his proposal to raise cash for school buildings was merely an idea that was not yet calculated, opposition parties were dismissive of the plan.

Nonetheless, figures who had proposed identical schemes in recent times, involving government-backed bonds as a means to raise funds without borrowing, welcomed Mr Dempsey’s enthusiasm for the suggestion.