Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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195. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills why window replacement in schools is afforded low priority for funding as set down in the criteria under the summer works grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15554/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake small and medium scale improvement works that will upgrade existing school facilities, which can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. The scheme is designed to address necessary and immediate works within the funding available.

Window replacement is recognised by the application of priority category 7 to such projects (in practice such projects are considered as category 6 as special needs projects which are identified as category 4 under SWS are now dealt with under the heading of the Emergency Works Scheme).

Valid SWS applications from schools in respect of Categories 3 to 10 that were not reached under round one approvals announced on 28th April last, 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.