Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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286. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any funding options open to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52417/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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It is open to the school to make an application under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) for funding for this request.

The purpose of the SWS is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works which, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. The SWS operates on a multi-annual basis and was last opened for applications in 2019.

The SWS plays an important role in the maintenance and upgrade of the condition of our schools. It provides important opportunities for improving the facilities in a school such as upgrading science laboratories and enhancing the energy efficiency of schools through upgrade works to roofs, windows, heating systems. It also provides for the upgrade of the external environment such as play areas or car parking etc.

The Department is leading an ambitious sustainability agenda and has progressed a wide array of measures to improve the overall sustainability of our school buildings. It is a priority for Government to deliver on Ireland’s ambitious climate agenda and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes targets around the decarbonisation of Ireland’s public buildings.

As part of it’s planning for 2023 and beyond, Department officials are working on the arrangements for the next phases of the summer works programme. It is envisaged at this stage that, a new Multi-Annual SWS with a focus on climate action and energy conservation will be opened for new applications in 2024 for delivery of projects on a phased basis. Schools will be notified of the details of the SWS in due course.