Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 411: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to her response to Parliamentary Question No. 511 of 27 November 2007, the alternative she proposes to provide for traffic safety measures within school boundaries which were previously taken care of under the summer works scheme, in view of the fact that the scheme is not going ahead this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35057/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Summer Works Scheme was introduced in 2004. Since then, over 3,000 projects costing in excess of €300 million have been completed. Considerable extra investment has been provided in the Budget to increase funding for school buildings to almost €600 million next year. With so many small projects having been completed over the past few years, I intend to focus on delivering as many large projects as possible in 2008. There will not, therefore, be a new Summer Works Scheme as part of our building programme next year.

Primary school authorities may use their annual minor works grant to fund small projects. The value of this grant was increased by 44% last year. Payments to the tune of €27 million are to be made to schools under this scheme over the next week. This will enable schools all over the country to complete small scale works at their own discretion, without the need to interact with the Department.

If schools need emergency works completed, they can also apply for support from the Department.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Summer Works Scheme was introduced in 2004. Since then, over 3,000 projects costing in excess of €300 million have been completed. Considerable extra investment has been provided in the Budget to increase funding for school buildings to almost €600 million next year. With so many small projects having been completed over the past few years, I intend to focus on delivering as many large projects as possible in 2008. There will not, therefore, be a new Summer Works Scheme as part of our building programme next year.

The School Building Section of my Department operates an Emergency Works Fund to provide funding for very urgent works to schools that are in most need of resources for capital works. The management authority of the school in question should contact my Department's School Building Section in the matter.