Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the minor works grant; when she expects this to be paid this year for schools in Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16156/24]

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I am looking for an update on the minor works grant. When does the Minister expect this to be paid for schools in Carlow? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €4.5 billion to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities around the country for the almost 1 million students and, importantly, the 100,000 staff who learn and work in our schools. The minor works grant is one important element of a record level of capital investment in school infrastructure.

The Department recognises the importance of the minor works grant to primary schools. This funding provides good flexibility at local level to assist schools to manage and undertake works that support the operation of the school. Under Project Ireland 2040, a commitment has been given that the minor works grant will be paid in either December or January of the school year to all primary schools, including special schools.

In recent years the Department's approach has been to pay the minor works grant to primary schools in advance of the start of the following school year in order to facilitate a better lead-in period for schools to plan any maintenance or minor works during the summer period. The minor works grant for the current school year 2023-24 was paid in April 2023. I recently announced that a minor works grant of €29 million for the 2024-25 school year would issue to all primary schools, including schools in Carlow, in the coming weeks.

Between 2018 and 2023 in the region of €310 million in minor works grants and enhanced minor works grants was allocated to schools. This includes the additional support in the context of Covid-19 of the payment of an enhanced minor works grant totalling €45 million for primary schools and special schools, plus a once-off Covid-19 minor works funding of €17 million for post-primary schools. The enhanced minor works grant allowed schools that identified inadequate ventilation in a room to utilise their minor works grant or apply for emergency works grant assistance to address issues.

Under the minor works grant scheme, funding is made available to all primary schools on the basis of a €5,500 basic grant plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil enrolled in the school on 30 September of the year prior to the issue of the grant.

All schools have the autonomy to use this funding for maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds. Given that each school setting is different, the individual schools are best placed to decide how best to use this funding to address their needs.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister. As she knows, the works that can be undertaken under the minor works scheme include maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds. However, many schools are finding that the costs have risen substantially and they are seeing a huge shortfall. The Minister has seen in areas such as housing, and in regard to all grants, that the costs of buildings and materials have now gone up by so much. I am asking her if she will now allow this extra funding to go towards this. I speak to a lot of schools. I want to welcome the grant she has announced for 2024 and 2025. That is very important. Yet, given the scale of things, we really need more funding, because of the costs of materials and the works that need to be done.

There is also a school in Carlow that built a sensory room. It was funded by donations that came from the school’s own community. It is in County Carlow and it is a very small community. It cannot keep going back to the community to look for funding to finish it. Is it being considered and included in the minor works grant? We need a lot more communication.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In terms of the funding that has been made available to Carlow schools, from 2018 to 2023 schools in Carlow received in excess of €4.5 million under the minor works grant. The grant for the 2024 to 2025 school year, which is, as I said, due to issue later this month, will provide more than €400,000 in additional funding to Carlow schools. On the point of funding being issued to schools, I also recently announced the ICT grant of €50 million to all primary, special and post-primary schools for the 2023 to 2024 school year. In respect of that, schools in Carlow will receive in the region of €750,000 in ICT grants in the coming weeks.

I recognise that we all live in a challenging environment, and I know how important this funding stream is. This is notwithstanding the fact there has been an increase in capitation going into the schools. Equally, there is a unit in the Department, namely, the financial support services unit, FSSU, which deals with difficulties that might arise and with schools that might be having specific challenges. We invite schools to deal directly with the Department. In terms of special education, specific funds are being made available to schools for the development of their special classes and the ancillary requirements.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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This funding is really welcome. It is so important. I note that it is planned to go to nearly 90 school building projects, which are currently at tender stage. The Minister announced that in the last few weeks. I welcome that. There are two capital projects for schools in County Carlow. One is, as the fellow said, "shovel ready" and ready to go. When will the announcement be made for these new capital projects?

The other issue is the delay. How can we look at things differently when I contact the Minister and the Department? I must contact the Minister every week, particularly regarding one school in County Carlow. I get on to her about all the other schools as well. Could we have more information and communication? When will these 90 planned school building projects that are currently at tender stage be authorised? When will we receive news about them?

There is one more thing. My little grandson is going to Monaleen National School in Castletroy in Limerick. I never bring up anywhere that is not in Carlow, but they have put in for a new school. I am wondering about that, too.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. In terms of the information that is being made available, the Department deals directly with the patron bodies on the ground, whoever they may be. To be fair, there are 4,000 schools in the system, so I think it is an appropriate mechanism. Of course, there is always a mechanism through which the Deputy can ask a parliamentary question in the Dáil, etc. I want to acknowledge that it is important to have a line of open contact with the schools. That is being done between the Department’s planning and building unit and the management of patron bodies that represent the schools.

Specifically, in terms of the ambitious project that is going forward, in the last number of years under this Government, more than 800 projects were completed. There are currently 300 projects at various stages of construction at this point in time. The Deputy is quite correct that I announced €800 million, which will facilitate an additional 90 projects, moving on to construction stage. They will be announced at different times. Some have now been announced and more will be announced. It depends on the stage they were at regarding the valuation of the tender project, etc. That will all happen in due course.