Quinn takes €20m from college capital budget

TWO-THIRDS of the €30 million being provide to improve school buildings this summer was earmarked for labour-intensive projects on third-level campuses.

The €20m Education Minister Ruairi Quinn is putting towards the fund — in addition to €41.2m already announced for a summer works scheme six weeks ago — is being diverted from his third-level capital budget. A spokesperson for the minister said the money is being moved from construction projects where progress has been slow.

When a further €10m from the Exchequer is added, it brings the investment in upgrading schools’ electrical, heating, roofs, playgrounds and other non-emergency works in the next few months to more than €70m.