Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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15. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on this year’s climate action summer works scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54102/26]

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Before I ask my final question before the summer recess, I thank the Minister and Minister of State for all of their engagement throughout the year, and I wish them both a very productive summer recess. With my better half being a Galway woman, I had also better wish the Minister the best of luck for Sunday. I hope the Minister of State next to her will soon forgive Galway for what its team did to his in the semi-final.

Will the Minister give me an update on the climate action summer works scheme and make a statement on the matter?

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I am looking forward to Sunday, if I can squeeze that in.

The roll-out of my Department’s climate action summer works scheme is a key part of our commitment under the national development plan to support investment in the existing school estate while also delivering on the climate action agenda. Through the scheme, schools can undertake a wide range of improvement projects and targeted climate measures, such as fabric upgrades, LED lighting, roof and window replacements, installation of electric vehicle, EV, chargers and bike racks, and other essential maintenance works.

The scheme is implemented on a devolved basis and, ideally, the work is of a scale that can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disruption of the operation of the school. The climate action summer works scheme operates on a multi-annual basis across a number of categories of works.

The scheme was opened for applications from 1 May to 30 June 2025, where over 1,400 applications were received. In November 2025, the Department announced the first tranche of approvals under that scheme. A total of 297 projects were approved to proceed, including 198 under the new climate action summer works scheme and a further 99 that represent the final tranche of projects under the previous summer works scheme. The Department continues to actively engage with these schools to support the delivery of approved projects. It is envisaged that the majority of these projects will be on site this summer.

Given that funding is limited in any particular year, it is necessary to prioritise applications. Applications from schools that were not approved in 2025 will still qualify to be assessed in subsequent years within the context of the available funding envelope. As to the Deputy's question, the next tranche of approvals under the climate action summer works scheme is due in October 2026 for delivery in summer 2027.

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for that. On her final point, I will raise one school to begin with. Presentation Primary School in Thurles originally applied in 2016 for works to its car park and school yard in terms of tarring, relining, safer access and drop-off zones. Cars have to yield going in and out because there is only one space for one car, but it has the land to increase the width of the entrance and reline it. There is also a bus pulling up in the yard every day for the early intervention class. Generally, six teachers have to go out into the yard every day to direct traffic in the morning and evening, which obviously is not acceptable.

The school did not get approval in 2016 but has submitted an application under the current scheme. It has not been approved for this summer, though. I brought this matter to the attention of the Department previously, and I would like to bring it to the attention of the Minister now so that consideration could be given to the Presentation Primary School in Thurles come this autumn when we are looking at the summer 2027 works.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The next tranche of approvals is due this coming October for summer 2027. Drawing on experience from the Department's pathfinder programme, the new summer works scheme includes several climate action measures. Schools applying for the scheme select their preferred project category. There are ten categories of projects supported under this scheme, and all schools that applied for laboratory upgrades under it had their applications approved in the first tranche. This involved a total of 63 projects. Total expenditure under the summer works scheme from 1 January 2020 to 31 May 2026 amounted to €211 million. Some 1,480 summer works projects have been approved since 2020 to date, including 198 under the new climate action summer works scheme.

I hear the points the Deputy has raised, and I am sure he has engaged with the Department. I look forward to announcing the next tranche in October.

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister mentioned labs, which is fantastic because that is my next point.

St. Mary's Secondary School in Nenagh has been approved for its science labs. The tender has been done and the proposed contractor is to be appointed.

The school sent its information to the Department on 10 June and followed up on 29 June. Essentially, the school will be somewhat of a building site certainly up until Christmas, but the sooner we can get it started, the better because it has the funding and approval. It just needs to get the approval to appoint the contractor and get going. Although it will have to manage getting the work done on the labs at the start of the academic year, from September to Christmas, the sooner we can get going this summer, the less it will impact on the academic year at the far end of it. It is St. Mary's Secondary School in Nenagh. I have raised it with the Department, but if the Minister could follow it up as well, it would be fantastic. It is great to get the money; we just want to make sure that the project gets going as quickly as possible.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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We listen to schools around further supports that they need. Under the last scheme, any school that applied for laboratory upgrades received them. Some 63 projects were approved. I can follow up with the Department in relation to moving that along. Schools can apply for one of the ten categories. I will outline them because sometimes there is confusion in relation to those categories. They are: climate action works, climate action roof works, climate action and electrical works, climate action and mechanical works, science labs, climate action and toilet facilities, window projects, curricular requirements, fabric defects and external environmental projects. Projects provided under the summer works scheme generally involve improvement works to the building which can include the provision of roof replacements, window replacements and new heating systems, among other measures. The emergency works scheme continues to be available to schools to deal with unforeseen emergencies which could result in school closures.