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.