FF ‘using schools building programme as slush fund’

FINE GAEL has accused Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe of using the school building programme as a Fianna Fáil electioneering machine after the Irish Examiner revealed he had two schools added to a building announcement at the last minute.

Mr O’Keeffe’s policy adviser was made aware of concerns in the Department of Education building unit in February about adding two primary schools in Clare and Dublin to a list of 41 which were proposed to go to tender and construction this year.

According to documents released under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, it was felt that the schools would not be ready for work to begin until later this year or in 2010 and that carrying the funding commitment into next year could put pressure on urgent building projects in 2011 and 2012.