Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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276. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding will be available to schools for summer works programmes in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7962/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I refer the Deputy to my announcement on 7th November last relating to the allocation of almost €70 million for school improvements. Over €28 million is being made available as a once-off payment to primary schools as part of the Minor Works Grant scheme and this grant was furnished to the schools in November 2013. Another €40 million will be allocated under the Summer Works Scheme 2014 which is being re-introduced to fund the improvement and upgrading of existing school buildings.

Funding from the Scheme will allow eligible schools to carry out small and medium scale building works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings. Commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works Scheme, applications are currently being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (59/2013) is available on my Department's website www.education.ie. It is my intention to publish a list of successful applicants in early 2014.