Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has to provide funding to primary schools to assist or overcome the loss of funding due to the withdrawal of the summer work scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25136/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Since the Summer Works Scheme was introduced in 2004, over 3,000 projects, costing in excess of €300 million, have been completed. With so many smaller projects having been completed over the past few years, the particular emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in developing areas, while also showing the Government's commitment to delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country. Accordingly my Department is focusing on delivering as many large projects as possible in 2008 and there is no Summer Works Scheme this year. However, it is intended to have a Summer Works Scheme in 2009.

Primary school authorities may use their annual minor works grant to deal with small scale projects. In 2006 funding for the minor works grant increased by 44% on the previous year. Around €27m was paid out to primary schools throughout the country last year to enable thousands of small scale works to be completed without the need to interact with my Department.