Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pending applications made for school refurbishment; the number of new applications made to the end of August 2018; the number approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38985/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides a number of mechanisms through which improvements are carried out in schools.  Through the 6 year Capital Programme, the investment plan is about looking to the future and ensuring that our school infrastructure is well prepared to accommodate our growing school population.  The programme also addresses the requirements of many schools which are in need of upgrading and refurbishment, although they may not be experiencing significant demographic pressure.

The projects under the capital programme will provide 19,000 new primary schools places and 43,000 new post-primary places.  While the Programme relates to major projects capital funding for smaller projects, such as the addition of a classroom etc., is dealt with on an ongoing basis through the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. 

In additional the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is designed to allow schools, on a devolved funding basis, to carry out necessary improvement and refurbishment works that will upgrade existing school facilities.  Under the 2016-2017 almost €80 million has been approved to date under the Summer Works Scheme, in respect of over 640 school projects in categories 1 - 6.

Finally, for primary schools, the Minor Works grant allows schools to undertake improvement works in full or in part, as the grant allows, without prior application to my Department.

The recent launch of Project Ireland 2040 included an announcement of a major package of investment in education for the next decade with the school building budget increasing by 70%. 

This investment will provide for the continued increase in demographics while also allowing for a greater focus on refurbishment and upgrading of existing school stock.  In regard to the SWS the remaining categories of project from the 2016-2017 scheme will be processed with a new SWS opening for applications in early 2019 for projects for summer 2020 onwards.  Furthermore, my Department is committed to putting in place a grant scheme similar to the Minor Works Grant in place at post-primary level over the lifetime of Project Ireland 2040.