Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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502. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if sewerage works qualify under the summer works scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14346/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that it is open to School Authorities to apply for sewerage works under 'Category 4 Mechanical Works' of the Summer Works Scheme.

The purpose of the Summer Works Scheme is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works which, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. Under the terms of the scheme, school authorities are empowered to manage these works with guidance from and minimal interaction with the Department of Education. 

The Summer Works Scheme is a multi-annual scheme whereby all applications made when the application system is opened, are held in the system for consideration under future rounds of the scheme.

Commensurate with the level of funding set aside for the Scheme, applications are assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the Circular accompanying the Scheme. In that regard, applications submitted for works will be considered under future rounds of the Summer Works Scheme.

It is envisaged that a new Multi-Annual Summer Works Scheme will be opened for new applications in Q2 2022.  

My Department's Emergency Works Scheme is the Department's mechanism for dealing with emergency works issues at schools.