THE schools building improvement grant has been slashed by more than a third in the recent local government settlement.

The figure has gone from £99million to £65million.

Shadow Local Government Minister Darren Millar said:

"In 2000, the Assembly Government made a commitment to get all school buildings in Wales into good physical shape by 2010.

"With the school building improvement budget being cut by more than a third now, we are moving even further away from that commitment.

"I challenged the First Minister about this WAG target on Tuesday but unfortunately he did not provide an answer to my question.

"We already know the 2010 target will be missed, with the latest estimates predicting all schools in Wales will not be fit for purpose until 2020.

"But this budget cut proves the Assembly Government is not taking the problem of below standard schools and classrooms seriously."

Shadow Education Minister Paul Davies added:

"This is a very disappointing cut.

"Labour are quick to boast about how much money they have invested in school buildings over recent years but clearly it has not been enough.

"The backlog in school building repairs and modernisation is already in excess of £800mn.

"Slashing this budget to just £65million means local authorities wont even be able to scratch the surface in terms of the repairs and renovations needed.

"It is not right that our children and teachers have to work in sub-standard conditions."