Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I take this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn. I thank Senator Ó Clochartaigh for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and the current position in regard to summer works projects.

The summer works scheme covers projects in school buildings such as gas, electrical and mechanical works, roof replacements and repairs, window replacement, toilet upgrades, access works and structural improvements that, ideally, can be delivered during the summer months. The Senator will be aware that on 30 March 2011 the Minister announced a list of 453 schools that were successful under the summer works scheme 2011. Applications from primary and post-primary schools for gas, mechanical and electrical works were prioritised for summer works funding this year. The Department has sought to prioritise the funds that are available towards works that are most relevant to the health and safety of staff and students alike in our schools.

In light of further funding being made available under the Government's jobs initiative, projects submitted under the 2011 summer works scheme were considered further. As announced on 10 May 2011, an additional 374 schools were successful under the jobs initiative scheme and these are published on the Department's website. Some €40 million will be made available through the jobs initiative to fund these 374 primary and post-primary school building projects. These funds will allow schools to carry out small and medium scale building works such as special needs access, toilet facilities, roof works at primary and post primary level and window replacements at post primary level. In its programme for Government, this Government committed to advancing with shovel-ready projects as quickly as possible - this investment in our schools will create much-needed jobs in the construction sector.

The capacity of schools to take responsibility for delivering small and medium-scale projects is a key component of the summer works scheme and the Minister is pleased to be in a position to make funding available this year. I am confident that school authorities will be able to achieve best value for money on prices for jobs, given the competitive construction market at present and I call on schools to ensure they maximise the benefit to their schools of the works sanctioned.

As outlined in the circular governing the operation of the summer works scheme, applications for works in the higher categories were prioritised. Unfortunately the application from scoil náisiúnta Tír an Fhiadh, Leitir Mór, was a category 7 project at primary school level and, due to the scale of demand for funding under the scheme, it was not possible to grant aid category 7 primary school projects. Applications from schools for gas, mechanical and electrical works were prioritised for summer works scheme funding this year. Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand for funding under the scheme, it was not possible to grant aid all applications and, accordingly, it has been necessary to prioritise some categories of works over others. The Department has sought to prioritise the funds that are available towards works that are most relevant to the health and safety of staff and students alike in our schools, and which have the most potential for job creation.

In the meantime, for works that are of a very urgent nature, it is open to the school authorities to consider whether the works in question qualify for funding under the Department's emergency works scheme. An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action and, in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening. Details of the scheme, together with an application form for grant assistance, can be accessed on the Department's website at www.education.ie. This year, almost €383 million will be invested in school building infrastructure under the school building and modernisation programme.

I thank the Senator for raising the matter and confirm my commitment and that of the Minister to advance capital projects in line with available resources.