Seanad debates
Wednesday, 25 April 2018
Commencement Matters
Summer Works Scheme
10:30 am
Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
The summer works scheme is designed to allow schools to carry out small and medium-scale building works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings. This has given flexibility to schools and has been very worthwhile. This scheme is additional to other capital funding schemes that are operated by the Department, such as the additional accommodation scheme and the emergency works scheme for projects of such urgency that they would prevent some or all of the school from opening, and minor works schemes.
The summer works scheme is a multi-annual scheme. The Senator will be aware that over 1,650 schools, nearly 50% of schools, applied for inclusion under the current round of the scheme which reflects a very high demand. To date, almost €80 million has been approved under the current round of the scheme, in respect of 635 school projects, 464 primary and 171 post-primary schools, for gas, electrical upgrades, mechanical, sanitation and roof improvement works.Details of the successful school applicants are published on the Department’s website. The Senator is seeking clarity on the position for 2018. The position is that over €25 million will be spent on summer works projects in 2018. This expenditure will enable the remaining approved improvement works for the 178 schools nationwide to be completed. These works will be carried out by the schools themselves on a devolved basis mainly over the summer months, so the disruption to students, teachers and other school staff will be kept to a minimum. Furthermore, the Department intends to engage with the relevant education partners on giving schools a better lead-in period for planning and delivering projects under the summer works scheme from 2019 onwards. While the summer works scheme is hugely successful in enabling small scale refurbishment works to be done on a devolved basis, the Department considers that the operation of the scheme could be improved by providing a better lead-in period for schools rather than in the second quarter as in previous years. This will also help ensure that works done under the summer works scheme fit better with any wider refurbishment and energy retrofit plans that may be done at schools under the increased funding provided by the national development plan. The engagement with education partners will commence shortly and will assist in developing a better timeframe for the planning and delivery of summer works for 2019 onwards.
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