Fianna Fáil’s promises on education aren’t worth the paper they are written on and its pledge that it will build on the investment in the school building programme is an outright lie, according to Fine Gael’s education spokesman, Michael Creed.
"The ministers for Education and Finance decided some times ago to slash the primary school building budget from €168m this year to only €100m next year and €105m in 2004," he said.
" For secondary schools, next year’s building programme will have €68m slashed from its budget.
"What is more, they have informed the European Commission of these plans as part of our commitments under the Growth and Stability commitment for the Euro.
"The Taoiseach should now tell the people who he is lying to - the electorate or the European Commission. Today’s announcements are an example of policy-making on the hoof and will be seen for the lies that they are," he added.