FINE GAEL has claimed 26 school-building projects are stalled due to a lack of financing.
Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes called for action from Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe and the Department of Education, which he accused of leaving the schools "out in the cold" after initially approving the building projects.
"From information I have obtained from the department, 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," Mr Hayes said.
"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."
Urging the Minister to say when the 26 schools can begin building, the Fine Gael TD said not giving them a project starting point "represents atrocious management on the part of the Department of Education and Science".
