Building projects for the 26 schools across the country were initially approved, Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes said, but now the Department is refusing to give them the green light. 

“From information I have obtained from the Department (see below), it is clear that a new era of cutbacks is well and truly upon us. Twenty-six much needed school projects in 18 counties are stuck on a list while the Department of Education refuses to give them the green light.

“In all cases they have completed the lengthy ‘staged’ process employed by the Department over many years and the only decision left to take is for the Minister to allow the schools to move to construction stage.

"They have obtained approval for their plans from Departmental officials, have planning permission, and have builders selected for the works. This process often takes ten years and, having completed all of the bureaucratic requirements imposed by the Department, each of the schools does not know at this stage where it stands and the likely start date.

“It must be highlighted that these projects represent major works in terms of the school building programme and were expected to be part of the Minister’s announcement in February of this year.

“The new Minister needs to state unequivocally what the position is and when these 26 schools will be allowed to get started with their projects.

"Simply allowing these schools to languish on a list where there is no clear direction as to when projects can commence, represents atrocious management on the part of the Department of Education and Science ... I hope the new Minister introduces some accountability, and a good way to start would be to tell each of the 26 schools on this list when building can commence."

Information obtained from a parliamentary question on 1 May from Brian Hayes TD to the Department of Education and Science:
County Cavan - 1 tender
County Cork - 1 tender 
County Donegal - 2 tenders
County Dublin - 3 tenders
County Galway - 1 tender
County Kerry - 1 tender
County Kildare - 4 tenders
County Kilkenny - 1 tender
County Laois - 1 tender
County Longford - 1 tender
County Mayo - 1 tender
County Meath - 3 tenders
County Monaghan - 1 tender
County Offaly - 1 tender
County Roscommon - 1 tender
County Tipperary - 1 tender
County Westmeath - 1 tender
County Wicklow - 1 tender
TOTAL - 26