Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 942: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of the summer works scheme; if there are plans to reintroduce the scheme or a similar one to provide for small scale repair and renovation projects in schools; the number of projects that will now have to be cancelled; the number of schools and the cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1303/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Summer Works Scheme has, since its introduction just a few years ago, transformed the standard of existing school accommodation. With over 3,700 projects now having been funded under the scheme, the Department's intention is to concentrate the investment in school buildings this year on delivering as many large projects as possible.

While there will be a focus on providing extra places in developing areas, the Department will also be delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country. The emphasis, however, will be on new schools, extensions and major refurbishments, rather than on smaller projects. At primary level schools may use their devolved minor works grant to address such works.

In the circumstances, there will not be a new Summer Works Scheme as part of the Department's building programme in 2008. This being the case, details in relation to the number of applications received and cost have not been collated by the Department.

The Professional and Technical Reports provided by schools can be used again for future projects so that schools will not be at the loss of expenditure on them.