Written answers

Tuesday, 29 May 2018

Department of Education and Skills

Summer Works Scheme Eligibility

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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257. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the necessary upgrading or provision of play areas at primary schools will be included in the categories of necessary works eligible for funding under the summer works scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23587/18]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Summer Works Scheme is designed to allow schools to carry out small and medium scale building works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings. This scheme is additional to other capital funding schemes that are operated by the Department such as the additional accommodation scheme, Emergency Works scheme i.e. for projects of such urgency that they would prevent some or all of the school from opening, and Minor Works schemes.  

There are 10 categories of works under the Summer Works Scheme, agreed with the education partners some years ago. I can confirm that the upgrade/provision of play areas is included under Category 10, i.e. external environment projects.

The Department intends to engage with the relevant education partners in relation to giving schools a better lead-in period for planning and delivering projects under the summer works scheme from 2019 onwards.  While the Summer Works Scheme is hugely successful in enabling small scale refurbishment works to be done on a devolved basis, the Department considers that the operation of the scheme could be improved by providing a better lead-in period for schools rather than in Quarter 2 as in previous years.   This will also help ensure that works done under the Summer Works Scheme fit better with any wider refurbishment/energy retrofit plans that may be done at schools under the increased funding provided in the National Development Plan. The engagement with education partners will commence shortly and will assist in developing a better timeline for the planning and delivery of summer works projects for 2019 onwards.

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