Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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860. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a minor works grant will be granted to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41199/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Circular Letter 0062/2013 which was published as the Minor Works Grant for the school year 2013/2014 issued last November states "the grant will only be paid in future years as funding permits". The focus under the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016 is on meeting the demand for additional school places. At this time there is no funding available within my Department's 2014 financial allocation for the payment of the 2014/2015 Minor Works Grant.

I am aware that whenever my Department is in a position to issue a Minor Works Grant (to all primary schools with permanent recognition) that it is welcomed by school communities and management bodies including the school in question as a valuable contribution towards the cost of maintaining school infrastructure.

Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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861. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a minor works grant will be granted to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41200/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Circular Letter 0062/2013, which was published as the minor works grant for the school year 2013/2014 issued last November, stated that the grant will only be paid in future years as funding permits. Under my Department's Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016 the primary focus is on meeting demands for additional school places. My Department's capital allocation for 2015 was agreed as part of the budgetary process. Expenditure commitments arising on projects under construction and schemes/initiatives under delivery have a first call on this allocation. Funding is also required for new projects and schemes/initiatives that will be advanced during 2015. Accordingly no decisions can be taken regarding a minor works grant for 2015/2016 at this time.

I am aware that whenever my Department is in a position to issue a minor works grant to primary schools with permanent recognition it is welcomed as a valuable contribution towards the cost of maintaining school infrastructure.