Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his plans to deal with the backlog in applications for the summer works scheme as a result of its cancellation in 2008. [19223/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I was pleased to announce on 7th May last my Summer Works Scheme for this year. €80m has been allocated to the Scheme which will enable 967 schools, primary and post-primary, to carry out much needed works to their school buildings on a devolved basis. A key principle behind the devolution of this Scheme is that responsibility for the management of the project is devolved to the school authority. The school authority can then make use of its local knowledge and presence on the ground to manage the project more effectively and ensure better value for money for the taxpayer.

The €80 million fund will finance over 1,180 small to medium-scale capital projects in these schools over the quiet summer months so that disruption is minimised. The capacity of schools to take responsibility for delivering small and medium-scale projects is a key component of the Summer Works Scheme and I'm pleased to be in a position to make funding available once again.

The Summer Works Scheme, which returns this year after a 12-month deferral period, covers school projects such as gas, electrical and mechanical works, roof replacements and repairs, window replacement, toilet upgrades, structural improvements and access works. The fund will dramatically improve structural, mechanical, electrical, gas and other works in schools right across the country. The Planning and Building Unit of my Department has contacted the schools approved for grant aid under this year's Scheme with further details and instructions on how to proceed.

The Summer Works Scheme was first introduced by my Department in 2004. Since then, over 3,000 summer works projects have been carried out in primary and post-primary schools at a cost of almost €300 million.

The Scheme had been deferred for the 2008 year to allow the Department's Planning and Building Unit to focus on larger-scale building projects with a particular emphasis on providing sufficient school places in developing areas, while also delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country. The applications processed for this years Scheme were those submitted for the deferred 2008 Scheme. It is my intention that applications for a 2010 Summer Works Scheme will be invited later this year.

In addition to providing much needed improvements to school buildings this €80m investment in our schools will also create much-needed jobs in the construction sector. I am also asking schools to ensure that they get best value for money on prices for jobs in what is currently a more competitive construction market.

This year alone almost €614 million will be invested on the School Building and Modernisation Programme - the highest spend on school buildings in the history of the State.

The list of approved schools/projects is available on my Departments website at www.education.ie.