Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I fully understand the importance of the minor works grant. Considerable enhanced payments were made during Covid because we recognised the significance of the minor works grant. Minor works grants for 2023-24 were paid in advance of the school year, in April of this year, to ensure schools would have the lead-in time the Deputy speaks of and in order that works could be done at a quiet time, perhaps over the summer or whatever the case might be. In any event, the payments were given in April of this year.

The funding for 2024-25 will be made available, as I said previously, in due course. The minor works grant is just one element of a record level of capital investment in school infrastructure. Since 2020, we have invested in the region of €3.5 billion to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities throughout the country for the almost 1 million students and more than 100,000 staff who learn and work in our schools every day.

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