Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

202. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will be providing a grant for minor works to national schools for 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42486/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.