Fine Gael TDs defend minister after Fianna Fáil criticism over schools investment

Education minister Hildegarde Naughton at the launch of the National Development Plan  in Dublin on Wednesday. Picture: Leon Farrell

Fine Gael TDs have defended education minister Hildegarde Naughton after a Fianna Fáil backbencher suggested schools in her constituency were prioritised for new investment.

Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne said he would not apologise for “representing schools within my constituency”, while questioning the criteria to select projects to prioritise.