Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important to outline that Galway received €19.1 million in minor works funding in the period 2018 to 2024 and €1.8 million in 2024. Therefore, the total funding for schools in Galway is €20.9 million in the period from 2018 up to present. It is substantial funding. I understand from a further note I received that the funding the Senator is talking about will be announced today or will be made available from today, but that is an unofficial note. Today is 24 April and I think the funding will be announced today.

I assure the Senator that the Department is conscious of the need to continue to support the operation of the school system. The Department recognises the importance of minor works grants and ICT grants to schools. It has a strong record of delivery and continues to have a strong pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme. All of this work is supporting and facilitating more than 960,000 primary and post-primary students in our school system, including more than 18,000 children from Ukraine and just over 26,000 children with additional needs enrolled in close to 3,000 special classes and in our 130 special schools.

The ICT grant of €50 million to all primary, special and post-primary schools for the 2023-24 school year has now issued to all recognised schools. The minor works grant of €29 million is currently being processed. My understanding from a further briefing note I got is that it will be announced today. The Senator's Commencement matter had an influence on the Department as well, so I thank him.