State funding for school revamp may no longer exist

A GOVERNMENT minister who approved funding for the redevelopment of a dilapidated school nine years ago can no longer guarantee that money for the project exists.

At a meeting this week of staff and parents of pupils at St Angela’s College in Cork city, Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin was unable to say if money for the project had been set aside in this year’s budget. This is contrary to a commitment given earlier this year by Education Minister Mary Hanafin that the money was there once all issues raised by her department’s planning and building unit had been addressed.

Mr Martin announced funding approval for the redevelopment and refurbishment project in 1999 when he was Minister for Education.