Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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75. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the qualifying criteria for schools to be eligible to receive the minor works grant; the schools in receipt of the grant in County Carlow; the reason schools were denied a grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24256/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under Project Ireland 2040 the Minor Works Grant (MWG) is paid to primary schools in either December or January of each school year.

This year, due to the exceptional circumstances arising from COVID-19, €29m was paid under the Minor Works Grant to primary schools in the free scheme in July 2020.  There was also an additional funding of €75m under the July Stimulus programme allocated to cover an enhanced Minor Works Grant at Primary and a once off Minor Works Grant at Post-Primary schools. To date approximately €71m of these grants have issued to schools.

Schools outside of the free scheme are not automatically covered by the Minor Works Grant or the enhanced MWG. My Department recognises that there might be limited circumstances where fee-charging schools may require some support to implement necessary reconfiguration works envisaged under the ‘Roadmap for the Full Return to Schools’. In all circumstances schools are required to clearly demonstrate their difficulties in implementing necessary control measures and how the provision of additional support will help to overcome those particular difficulties. Schools can contact the Department at reopeningschools@education.gov.ie if they wish to make an application. Each application received by the Department is considered on a case-by-case basis.

A list of the schools in Carlow that have received the MWG is set out below:

Carlow schools in receipt of Minor Works Grant (MWG)