Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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160. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount available in 2018, 2019 and 2020 under the revised minor works grant scheme; the number of schools that have had funds directed to them under the revised scheme in view of the fact that there is no application process for this grant; his plans to continue to pay the grant to all schools on a yearly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28939/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Minor Works Grant was introduced in 1997 and since then has issued to primary schools each school year with the exception of the 2012/2013 school year. The payment of the Minor Works Grant is not confined to any particular date and can be issued during any month of the school year. For the 2002/2003 school year, part of the grant was paid in May 2003, with the balance in October 2003. The grant amounting in total to almost €29m in respect of the 2017/2018 school year issued in December 2017 to 3,248 primary schools.

It is intended that the Minor Works Grant in respect of the 2018/2019 school year will issue no later than January 2019.

Circular Letter 0062/2013 which is available on the Department’s website gives full details on the grant scheme for Minor Works.

My Department recognises the importance of the Minor Works Grant to primary schools. The National Development Plan 2018-2027 signals a gradual ramping up in capital expenditure in the schools sector over the coming years. In that context, and as part of our longer term infrastructural planning, my Department would intend to put the Minor Works Grant on an annual footing and to provide greater certainty to schools on the timing of payments.