Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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332. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give consideration to the provision of the planning and building unit grant to special needs schools and primary schools with special classes for the 2014-15 school year following its reinstatement during the current calendar year; his views on whether this grant is proving very beneficial for such schools in meeting their service demands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9730/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In November 2011 on the announcement of the Medium Term Education Capital Investment Framework, I indicated that it was unlikely funding would be available in future years to allow the issue of the Minor Works Grant to primary schools. In November 2013 funding was made available as a once-off payment of the Minor Works Grant in respect of the 2013/2014 school year. Future funding of the Minor Works Grant remains governed by the need to focus on the provision of additional school places and the position as I outlined in November 2011 remains in place. I know that whenever my Department is in a position to issue a Minor Works Grant that is welcomed by school communities and management bodies as a valuable contribution to the costs of maintaining school infrastructure whether in the mainstream or special school sector.