FG: Schools stuck on building works waiting list

MORE than a quarter of the country’s 4,000 schools are months and probably years away from having important building works completed.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act show that the Department of Education has 1,398 school building projects awaiting the go-ahead. But 1,033 of these are still at pre-architectural planning stage, which means design teams have to be appointed, planning permission granted and funding approved before construction even begins.

Fine Gael education spokesman, Brian Hayes, had requested the data, which he said outlines the scale of the building problem facing schools around the country.