Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I think it is good fortune that the Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform is here to answer questions today, because I have a very specific question that relates to public expenditure. The grant for minor works arrived in schools today. We all welcome the fact that there was a 50% increase on the grant for the minor works which, is it assumed, will be used to install HEPA filters. Some schools may have to choose between installing HEPA filters and other minor works, such as bathroom renovations and fixing windows. I had huge issues with that and that was intended to be the subject of my original question. However, the remittance slip that arrived in schools today contains a curiosity. The remittance slip states that the grant is for 2022 and 2023. I ask the Minister to confirm that the minor works grant for schools next year will still be at least €30 million, as it was this year, and that schools will not have to choose between installing HEPA filters and doing bathroom renovations, not only for next year but for the year after that too? Will there be the same minor works grant for schools in 2022 as there was intended to be this year, or is that extra money being taken from the 2023 budget?

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