Schools pledge - PPP projects must be monitored

Given the appalling conditions of some of the schools around the country, the announcement yesterday by Education Minister Mary Hanafin that 29 new schools will be provided by 2009 is to be welcomed.

At the moment it is only an announcement and it remains to be seen whether the minister and the Government deliver on the €300 million package.

There is no reason to assume that she made the announcement in anything but good faith, because she more than realises the need for modern and good educational facilities into the future.