Teachers welcome ‘value’ buildings

PLANS to get better value on school buildings have been welcomed by teachers but they warned against the burden for improvements being placed on schools and staff.

The Irish Examiner last week revealed plans by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe to seek more competitive prices on all projects funded by his department’s school building programme. The measures include a number of initiatives involving devolved grants given to schools, allowing them to directly manage their own projects.

He wants school boards to seek much more competitive prices than were being charged last year and also wants them to insist on reduced fees by architects.