Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will sanction a summer works scheme application for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; his views on whether this school is in exceptional circumstances; if as a result of these circumstances he will sanction summer works without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15542/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of a Category 10 application, external environment project, under the Summer Works Scheme (2016 and 2017) from the school to which he refers.

Nearly 50% of schools (including the school in question) have applied for inclusion under the 2016-17 scheme which reflects a very high demand. Details of successful school applicants in respect of Categories 1 and 2 were announced in April last and are published on my Department’s website www.education.ie. Assessment of valid projects in further categories is now being undertaken by the Department, subject to the overall availability of funding, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme as outlined in Circular Letter (0055/2015), which may be accessed on the Department's website. The application from the school in question is available to be considered in this context.

In the meantime, it is also open to the school to use its minor works grant to carry out high priority works at their school in full or on a phased basis, as that grant permits.