Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising what is a very real issue for many schools and one that I understand very well. In a former life, I was a principal of a small school. I understand first-hand the difficulties in trying to manage the finances, keep a school afloat, the vagaries of the various funding models and the reliance on them. I heard a good line once when I heard somebody - I think from the INTO - say that we do not see the local gardaí having to do cake sales to run the local Garda station. There are challenges there.

On the minor works grant, I am glad to confirm that the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, announced yesterday minor works grants totalling €28.8 million. Schools have been notified and they will get the money in the next week. That will be welcome. I, too, like I am sure most politicians in the House, had a number of emails from principals in the past couple of days and weeks fretting about whether this money was going to come at all. When he announced the minor works grants in 2017, the Minister did confirm that he would be announcing them again late in 2018. From the Minister's perspective, it was flagged that it would be late in the year before they would be announced. That is how it has happened.

The importance of the minor works grant to schools, including smaller schools, is fully understood, notwithstanding the other significant demands on resources at this time. The rates payable under the minor works grant are €5,500 per school plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil attending a special school or a special class. Schools can use the grant for a variety of school works, including improvements to school buildings and grounds, improvement or replacement of mechanical and electrical services, the purchase of standard furniture and physical education equipment, the purchase of floor coverings and window blinds, and the purchase of IT-related equipment.

I am aware that primary schools, including smaller schools, would wish to have certainty with regard to the availability of the minor works grant on an annual basis. This is an issue that will be reviewed in the context of the Department of Education and Skills long-term infrastructural planning and the level of resources available under the Government’s ten year public capital investment plan, which is currently under development. The demographic pressures at both primary and post-primary level mean that the Department’s school building programme must continue to focus on delivering additional school places. In 2017, that building programme has successfully delivered almost 19,000 permanent school places, of which more than 13,000 are additional places, with the completion of 46 major school building projects.

I again thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline the current position regarding the minor works grant 2017-18.