Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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241. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, further to previous representations made to his Department and parliamentary questions on a number of occasions on the urgent need to approve grant aid in respect of necessary upgrading works, particularly window replacements, at a school (details supplied), he will expedite the necessary funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30116/17]

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 7 application, window replacement, under the Summer Works Scheme (2016 / 2017) from the school to which he refers.

The Deputy will be aware that I announced details of the successful applicants under round two of the SWS (2016-2017) for categories 3 – 6, last May, details of which are published on my Department's website, www.education.ie.

Funding of €47 million is being made available and 438 schools nationwide will benefit from this announcement.

In total, funding of almost €80 million has now been approved in respect of 635 schools for Categories 1 to 6 under the multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017). Nearly 50% of all schools have applied for inclusion under the scheme which reflects a very high demand.  Applications under further categories will be considered in the event of further funding becoming available.

In the interim, 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 the works to be a priority.