Published: Wednesday, 21st April, 2010 5:00pm

Put the country back to work

It's refreshing to have some good news to write about and the €10m plus funding confirmed for various projects in Co. Cavan in the past week is welcome news indeed. It will see a number of key projects - a new school for Laragh, a major extension for Virginia, upgrades in group water schemes, a new inner-relief road for Ballyconnell and improvement works at over 30 schools over the summer.

The employment that these projects will provide in the area is a major boost, particularly when it will largely employ individuals in the ailing construction sector. The progression of school projects under the devolved scheme also hands control over to the respective boards of management, giving them the power to drive the project forward and appoint local contractors where possible. This makes much more sense, ensures for a timely delivery of the project, and good value for money - particularly since under this scheme, the boards of management are responsible for any costs in excess of the approved grant amount.

The government should seriously consider expanding this scheme - particularly when one considers that almost €500,000 was paid in 2009 by schools for the lease of portacabins. This is dead money. Also, putting funding in place for such infrastructural projects will create employment, shortening dole queues and, as such, reducing the real cost of such projects.

Indeed Virginia councillor Paddy O'Reilly pointed this out to the Tánaiste during her visit to Cavan on Friday. St. Mary's NS in Virginia is a prime example of the money that is being wasted in this way. The school has eight portacabins on lease, along with the ones that the school already owns. While the news for Virginia College is most welcome and much needed, similar news for the nearby national school is needed.

The progress of the inner-relief road in Ballyconnell to tender stage is a major step forward for the €7.5m project - and should boost the spirits of the Quinn Group in terms of its ability to get its products to the market. Meanwhile, funding for water projects of almost €2m for the county will go a long way towards improving water quality and services throughout Cavan.

Funding spent on this way is money well spent and will deliver benefits several times over. While the exchequer finances necessitate some cutbacks in spending, now is the time to find money for such projects. There has never been better value for money and it will get the country back to work. Innovation like this will put Ireland Inc back on the road to recovery.