To ask the Minister of Education what assessment she has made of the impact of the increase in (i) fuel costs; and (ii) fuel duty, on the departmental budget and the realisation of efficiency targets; and what action she has taken to mitigate against these increased costs.

In recognition of the impact of increasing fuel costs and fuel duty on the budget for education, a bid was submitted in the June Monitoring round for £7.5 million to cover the increased energy costs in schools. This bid was unsuccessful but the pressure on school budgets will be kept under review and a further bid will be made in subsequent Monitoring rounds, if necessary. In relation to the fuel costs for the running of the Department of Education, these are paid for by the Department of Finance and Personnel and therefore any increase in costs is a matter for them to address.

Níltear ag dúil go n-oibreoidh an méadú ar chostas agus ar dhleacht breosla tionchar ar chumas na Roinne na spriocanna éifeachtúlachta a leagadh amach i bpróiseas buiséid 2007 a shroicheadh.

It is not anticipated that the increase in fuel costs and fuel duty will have an impact on the Department's ability to achieve the efficiency targets set in the 2007 Budget process.