Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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258. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the minor works grant will be paid to schools for the current school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20049/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My 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. The Minor Works Grant for primary schools for the current school year 2022/2023 was paid in December in 2021.

On 11th April 2023, my Department announced €29 million in minor works funding for primary and special schools for the 2023/24 school year.

To provide schools with a good lead in period to plan and undertake works that will support the operation of schools going into the 2023/24 school year payment of these grants have now been processed. Schools will receive funding in their bank accounts in the next couple of days.

Schools have the autonomy to use this funding for maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds. Given that each school setting is different, individual schools are best placed to decide how best to use this funding to address their particular needs.

The works that can be undertaken under minor works scheme include maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds, improvement or replacement of mechanical and electrical services, the purchase of standard furniture and physical education equipment, the purchase of floor coverings and window blinds, the purchase of IT related equipment, ventilation improvements, and enhancements to outdoor learning environments.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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259. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the timelines for when schools receive grants to maintain school buildings, pay for utilities and cleaning services, and to pay staff have been revised several times this school year; if she will provide additional funding to schools adversely impacted by her Department’s delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20050/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding to recognised Primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the Ancillary to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff.

Schools are permitted to regard the capitation and ancillary grants as a combined grant. It is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs.

As the Deputy is aware, an agreement was reached between my Department and Fórsa on improved terms and conditions for grant funded secretaries. Further details are available in .

A bulletin was issued to schools by my Department recently advising them of the work that has been ongoing to implement this agreement so that secretaries who accepted it can be paid on my Department’s payroll from 1^stSeptember 2023.

In relation to payment of the Ancillary Grant referred to by the Deputy, my Department has been engaging with Management Bodies in order to discuss the interim arrangements for payment of the grant due up to September 2023 when secretaries are placed on a payroll operated by this Department.

These arrangements have now been finalised and a notice has issued to schools confirming funding will be in school accounts in the coming days.