Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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157. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to explain the position regarding the minor works scheme for national schools, particularly the administration of the funding permits in future years; the amount to be allocated to each school; the works permissible under the scheme; if the same level of funding will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27831/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Details in respect of the Grant Scheme for Minor Works to National School Properties (the Minor Works Grant) are available under Circular Letter 0062/2013 dated November 2013. The circular states that each primary school with full recognition will receive a €5,500 basic grant plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil on the rolls on the 30th September of the year prior to the issue of the grant.

The grant must be spent on the physical infrastructure of the school or on items of furniture and equipment for educational use including IT related equipment. Works covered include improvements to school buildings and grounds, improvement or replacement of mechanical and electrical services, the purchase of standard furniture and physical education equipment, the purchase of floor coverings and window blinds and the purchase of IT related equipment.

The Circular also states that the grant will only be paid in future years as funding permits. The Deputy will be aware that under the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016, the focus in the education sector is on meeting the demand for additional school places. Consequently, there is no funding provided at this time in the 2014 capital allocation for the payment of a Minor Works Grant to primary schools.