Schools will find out in January whether the building and/or repair programme in their schools will go ahead. The Department will publish a list detailing who is getting what.

There are seven different stages in the school. If you are at the "sketching and design" phase you could be in trouble. If work is under way you and the JCB's are on site, you are probably okay.

The Department says the priority will be to complete contractual commitments; to continue with with radon/asbestos and dust-extraction safety programmes and to provide emergency health and safety works.

"Essential temporary accommodation" will also be given priority. Translation: expect more prefabs.

Don't automatically assume that your scheme will go ahead if you are on the INTO black-list. If the walls are rotting and the rats are hovering, the Department will want to know what you are doing with the maintenance grant. This is worth about €10,000 per year to the typical 500-pupil school.

If you don't make the list in January, you should be able to find out precisely when the work will actually begin. The Department plans to work out a five-year rolling programme on school buildings with the Department of Finance. Discussions begin shortly.