Lesson for minister on school construction

EDUCATION Minister Batt O’Keeffe’s willingness to have schools built under a lease and buy-back agreement with builders shows further flawed thinking by the Government.

It is without question that we need new, expanded and refurbished schools throughout the country.

But offering builders a win-win situation is not the best solution to this crisis. I can already see the builders queuing up — a guaranteed tenant, a fixed rent, no maintenance fees and a guaranteed sale price back to the State.

Why can’t the Government simply borrow the money needed to fund the schools capital building programme and keep some of the builders’ profits for the taxpayer?

Hendrick Verwey

Old Church

Cobh

Co Cork