Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 6 December 2018, the reason category 10 under the summer works scheme was not approved; the further detailed analysis required for category 10; if this analysis can be expedited sooner than the estimated timeframe of 2020 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20803/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware the Summer Works Scheme (SWS), which is demand based, is designed to allow schools, on a devolved funding basis, to carry out necessary and immediate improvement works that will upgrade existing school facilities. To date in excess of €117 million has been approved for 1,006 schools in respect of Categories 1 to 9 under the last SWS.

347 applications under Category 10 which covers (External Works e.g. upgrade and resurfacing of yards and car parking etc.) were received under the last SWS. Given the scale of costs involved more detailed analysis of these applications is required to determine the pathway forward. It is intended to undertake this analysis later this year. Funding availability for SWS in 2020 will determine the extent of projects that can be approved from the remaining Category 10 applications from the old scheme and the first cohort of applications under the new scheme which is currently open for applications.