Primary schools across County Galway are falling into “unmanageable debt” due to cuts introduced by Education Minister Ruairí Quinn, particularly the scrapping of the minor works grant.
This is the view of Fianna Fáil Galway East TD Michael Kitt, who is calling on the Government to “immediately address what has become a funding crisis at primary school level”.
The minor works grant was worth between €5,000 and €12,000, and according to Dep Kitt, many schools depended on this cash injection to carry out small works to facilities in everyday use. The grant was particularly valuable in light of cuts to the capitation grant and the scrapping of the summer works scheme.
“Abolishing the minor works grant on top of everything else has pushed many schools over the edge,” said Deputy Kitt. “I am calling on the Government to reinstate the grant before the next academic year.”
He also said that Government TDs in County Galway - Seán Kyne, Brian Walsh, Paul Connaughton, Ciaran Cannon, Derek Nolan, and Colm Keaveney - have “a duty to explain to the Minister Quinn “the problems this cut has caused”.
