Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The current Summer Work Scheme (SWS) 2020, is a multi-annual based scheme that was announced in 2019 and commenced in the summer of 2020.

Schools were invited to make applications under the scheme in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Circular Letter 0027/2019.

The purpose of the SWS is to devolve funding to individual recognised primary and post-primary school authorities, to undertake small-scale building works which can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. Primary and post-primary schools participating in the free education scheme, with permanent recognition from the Department and in non-rented accommodation, are also eligible to apply under the SWS.

The current categories of work eligible for funding, are prioritised on the following basis:

Priority/Category 1: Life Safety Systems (Fire Alarm, Fire Detection and Emergency Lighting)

Priority/Category 2: Roof Works

Priority/Category 3: Electrical Works (other than Life Safety Systems)

Priority/Category 4: Mechanical Works

Priority/Category 5: Science Labs (incl. Gas Works)

Priority/Category 6: Toilet facilities

Priority/Category 7: Windows Projects

Priority/Category 8: Curricular Requirements (excl. Science Labs)

Priority/Category 9: Fabric defects

Priority/Category 10: External environment projects

In 2019, there were over 1100 applications received for the SWS programme. From the batch of SWS applications made in 2019, there are a tranche of circa 151 projects that have not yet been approved. Please see below table for detailed information.

County	No. of Primary Schools	No. of Post Primary Schools	Total
Carlow	1	2	3
Cavan	3	1	4
Clare	4	0	4
Cork	10	0	10
Donegal	17	4	21
Dublin	13	7	20
Galway	9	1	10
Kerry	6	3	9
Kildare	0	1	1
Kilkenny	5	0	5
Laois	1	1	2
Leitrim	0	1	1
Limerick	5	0	5
Longford	2	0	2
Louth	1	0	1
Mayo	5	2	7
Meath	7	1	8
Monaghan	0	1	1
Offaly	0	1	1
Roscommon	6	1	7
Sligo	3	2	5
Tipperary	6	3	9
Waterford	1	1	2
Westmeath	4	0	4
Wexford	2	2	4
Wicklow	5	0	5
Total	116	35	151

The SWS projects are approved in order of priority from 1 through to 10. The 151 projects yet to be approved are from categories 8, 9 and 10.

From 2019 to date, my Department has spent more than €226m delivering summer work scheme projects.

From 2020 to date, my Department has completed 722 SWS projects in primary schools, and 201 SWS projects in post primary schools. The projects are detailed in the below table:

Year	Primary	Post Primary	Total
2020	210	57	267
2021	227	49	276
2022	184	47	231
Dec 2023	101	48	149
Total	722	201	923

My Department has a strong track record of delivery of SWS projects and this was achieved in 2022 and again in 2023 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues.

Over the past couple of years, energy retrofit works have been included as additional scopes of work for projects approved under the roof works, window projects and mechanical works categories.

The Department is leading an ambitious sustainability agenda and has progressed a wide array of measures to improve the overall sustainability of our school buildings. It is a priority for Government to deliver on Ireland’s ambitious climate agenda and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes targets around the decarbonisation of Ireland’s public buildings.

As part of it’s planning for 2024 and beyond, Department officials are considering the next phases of the summer works programme. It is envisaged at this stage that, a Multi-Annual SWS with an emphasis on climate action and energy conservation will be the focus for the next summer works scheme to be opened for applications. The timing of that SWS is still under consideration and schools will be updated in due course.