Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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310. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department is dealing with a request for urgent works on the school yard at a school (details supplied); his views on the fact that there are now health and safety demands in respect of the issue; the current position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13136/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that a €30 million investment under Summer Works Scheme (SWS) (2016/2017) was announced on 28th April last. This related to successful applicants under Categories 1 and 2, - Gas and Electrical works.

I wish to confirm that applications for upgrading school yards are assessed under Category 10 of the SWS in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the Circular Letter accompanying the Scheme. Valid SWS applications from schools in respect of Categories 3 to 10 that were not reached under this round will, subject to the overall availability of funding, qualify to be assessed under future rounds of the Scheme. If this arises, the terms and conditions of the scheme as outlined in Circular Letter (0055/2015) which may be accessed on my Department's website, will continue to apply when allocating funding to such projects.

In the meantime, the school may use its minor works grant, which all primary schools received last November, to carry out the works in full or on a phased basis as that grant permits if the school considers them to be a priority.