Spending on school buildings faces €70m cut

THE Department of Education will spend €70 million less in 2012 than this year on school and college buildings and maintenance, with the emphasis on growing areas, pushing projects at many schools down the priority list.

The allocation for education capital spending in 2010 was €579m but this year’s total budget was cut to just under €500m.

Due to the overall slashing of public capital investment outlined last month, Ruairi Quinn will now have just €430m to spend on buildings and equipment in 2012