Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has negotiated a summer works grant scheme for which schools may apply; the size of the budget available for the scheme; when applications will be accepted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3486/15]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Has the Minister negotiated a summer works grant scheme for which schools may apply? What is the size of the budget available? When will applications be accepted?

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that spending of more than €70 million was approved for the 2014 summer works scheme to allow over 770 schools to undertake improvement works. This allowed for the funding of applications received under categories 1 to 6, which cover gas works, electrical works, mechanical works, toilet facilities and roof works. Schools which had applied under categories 7 to 10 were advised that their applications would be retained for prioritisation if funding for further summer works projects could be secured for 2015. I also wish to advise the Deputy that provision has been made in the 2015 allocation for the carry-over costs of improvement works already approved in 2014.

The feasibility of making further funding available to facilitate consideration of those applications which were received under categories 7 to 10 under the 2014 summer works scheme is currently being considered. In view of the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential school accommodation, it is not possible for me to advance a new summer works programme in 2015, but the files on the applications under categories 7 to 10 were kept open and they are currently being reviewed. I hope that information is helpful to the Deputy.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is unacceptable. Thankfully, we are supposed to have turned the corner. The most important issue for any country is to start with the basics - namely, with education. We are all aware of the cuts that affected all schools throughout the country during the recession. We must get our priorities right and decide where are we going. Schools, especially the smaller ones, throughout the country are on their knees. They need the leg up that would be afforded by this scheme. A few months ago there was the question of whether funding would be provided for the minor works grant. This drip-feeding of information leaves schools in a very precarious position. The Department of Finance should be contacted and more money should be made available. This is win-win situation in some cases. Schools could be made more efficient and could be run on smaller budgets if matters were done right.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy. We on this side of the House would like to spend much more money on schools, and we tried as best we could during the tough years to ensure that funding for education was protected and prioritised over that for other Departments. An additional €60 million has been allocated in the budget for education this year, because we recognise that, but it will only keep pace with demographics. We agree that we would like to have more money for the summer works scheme projects, but we do not have it at present. We have made and will continue to make a case for it. We are always chasing up extra money for resources. We recognise that it would be well spent, that it would be spent locally and that it would also provide jobs; there is no doubt about that. I agree with the Deputy that the arguments for it are very clear. The key point is that, unlike in other years, the applications are being kept open and, where funding for applications under categories 7 to 10 was not available, those applications are being kept on file and will be prioritised as money becomes available. That is a fair commitment. We would like and hope to get more money at some stage, but it would be wrong to say that we can open up the next round of the summer works scheme when there are still applications on file under categories 7 to 10.

There is no doubt that education is very important, but the number of young people coming through education is growing every year. It was good this year, in terms of funding, to have been able to keep up with demographic change, but it is about providing additional accommodation first. That must be the priority, and summer works, essential repair works and minor repair works, in respect of which there have been some announcements, will be kept up as well. The priority has always been to make sure that places are available for new people coming into the system, of whom there have been quite a number in recent years. That has been a fair challenge for the Department of Education and Skills. We recognise that education is one of the most important areas and that the Department must be funded.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I understand that more children are starting in school and that there is more pressure on schools. We welcome the announcements regarding schools that are being built. That is not a problem. I have looked around the country, and there is a certain degree of waste here and there in all Departments. We put prefabs in place when we should have looked at the bigger picture. I urge the Minister of State to hit the Department for Finance for funding to ensure that some is made available, because otherwise it is a matter of being penny wise and pound foolish. The carrying out of some of these works will pay in the long term. I ask the Minister of State to try to secure additional funding to provide for this.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes. We certainly will and we will keep making the case for it. The Deputy was not a Member at the time, but thankfully this Government adopted a commonsense approach, along the lines of the Deputy's comments, whereby prefabs were replaced with classrooms where possible.

I do not have the figures in front of me, but every year for the past three years there have been major developments in removing prefabs and replacing them with permanent, stand-alone classrooms, something which should have been done years ago. Many of us in the House have mentioned this issue, but it took a new Government to start the process. The former Minister, Deputy Quinn, changed the model in his first year in office. There has been a serious spend on new classrooms to remove prefabs which were rented and were, as the Deputy said, a waste of money. Things have moved on.

We are trying to get money from wherever we can to fund new projects. The summer works scheme and other such schemes help to protect the existing infrastructure and provide a better place to educate our young people. I stress that the applications which were met involved gas works, electrical works, mechanical works, toilet facilities and roof works, and were major priorities. The other areas of priority include window projects, curriculum requirement projects and other structural improvements which are needed. Money was spent on essential areas. The Deputy is correct and we will try to find more money where we can.

The applications made under last year's summer works scheme are still held in categories 7 to 10, which did not always happen. If money becomes available, it can be, it is to be hoped, dished out to the outstanding applications. In case there is any confusion, I wish to clarify that category 4 applicants for the previous summer works schemes relate to projects to facilitate access to schools for pupils with special needs. These applications are now considered under the Department's emergency works scheme, which is right. They get higher priority, something with which I think the Deputy would agree.