Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) was not awarded funding in the summer works scheme to replace windows; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14402/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The current Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2016 -2017 was applied on a multi-annual basis.  The Deputy will be aware that nearly 50% of schools have applied for inclusion under the scheme which reflects a very high demand. 

Almost €80 million has been approved to date under the SWS, in respect of over 640 school projects in categories 1 - 6. Details of the successful school applicants are published on my Department's website www.education.ie.

The 2018 budgetary provision will allow my Department to meet the carry over costs of summer works projects already approved.  The assessment of applications in the remaining categories 7-10, including the application from the school referred to by the Deputy for a category 7 project, is reliant on the availability of funding.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the further works referred, in respect of the school in question, are appropriate to the SWS, as a category 3 project.  It will be open to the school to apply under any future scheme for such works. Alternatively, the school may use its minor works grant, which all primary schools received late last year, to carry out the works in full or on a phased basis as the grant permits if the school consider the works to be a priority.