Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in releasing the minor works grant to schools; when an announcement will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4999/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland.

This investment will build on the good progress being made on adding capacity to cater for demographic changes and provision for children with special educational needs. This investment will also facilitate an increased focus on the modernisation of existing school stock and help transition the school system for an era of net zero carbon by 2050.

The Department recognises the importance of the Minor Works Grant to primary schools. The funding provides good flexibility at local level to assist schools to manage and undertake works that support the operation of the school. 

A total of €280 million in Minor Works Grants and Enhanced Minor Works Grants has been allocated to schools between 2018 and 2022.

In recent years my Department’s approach has been to pay the minor works grant to primary schools about 9 months in advance of the start of the following school year. This is done in order to facilitate a better lead in period for schools to plan any maintenance or minor works during the summer period.  The Minor Works Grant for primary schools for the current school year 2022-2023 was paid in December 2021.  My Department is currently examining needs for the 2023/24 school year as part of its overall assessment of our work programme and priorities and resources available to us.

My Department has a strong pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme involving approximately 300 projects at construction and in excess of 1,000 projects at the various stages of appraisal and design.

During 2022, 180 school building projects were delivered and a further 300 continued in construction at the start of 2023 -  most of which will be completed in 2023. There was also accelerated delivery of modular accommodation to facilitate additional capacity in special classes and special schools to cater for over 900 children with additional needs.

In addition, there was necessary refurbishment and maintenance in nearly 1,000 schools under the Multi-annual Summer Works Scheme and the Emergency Works Scheme.