Primary school builds €50m behind target

AS hundreds of schools await funding to move out of dilapidated and unsuitable buildings, it has emerged spending on primary schools alone is almost €50 million behind target.

The principal of a Cork school waiting a decade for progress on its application expressed frustration at hearing this week how almost half of the Department of Education’s 2010 budget of €712m was unspent by the end of October.

The Irish Examiner has learned spending on primary school building projects is €49m behind target for the first 10 months of the year. The department was to have spent €189m on new primary schools, extensions and major refurbishments by the end of October but only €140m has been spent.