Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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42. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans being put in place for a school (details supplied) in Monasterevin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26412/24]

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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43. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills who is responsible for the portacabins still in a school (details supplied) in Monasterevin; who is paying for those cabins; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26413/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 43 together.

The accommodation on the school site referred to by the Deputy are both rented modular units and purchased modular units, which were vacated on the recent completion of the new school building for the school in question.

The rented units are in the ownership of a modular supplier and the Department is no longer paying rent in respect of these units. The purchased units are in the ownership of the Department and, following recent confirmation from the property-owner that they cannot be retained on site for educational use, my Department is arranging for their relocation.

Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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44. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on a minor works grant application to repair a roof by a school (details supplied). [26415/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department recognises the importance of the Minor Works grant to primary and special schools. Under Project Ireland 2040, a commitment was given that the Minor Works grant would be paid in either December or January of the school year to all primary and special schools.? In recent years my Department’s approach has been to pay the Minor Works grant to primary and special schools in advance of the start of the following school year 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 the current school year 2023/2024 was paid in April 2023. The Minor Works grant for the school year 2024/2025 issued in April 2024. The lead-in period ahead of the new school year, give schools sufficient time to make plans and set priorities for the use of the funding.

The school referred to by the Deputy received €43,048 in Minor Works funding from 2020 to date, of which €6,369.50 was received in April 2024 for the 2024/2025 school year.

Primary and special schools need not apply for Minor Works grant aid.? Under the scheme, funding is made available to all primary and special schools on the following basis:

€5,500 basic grant plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil enrolled in the school on the 30th of September of the year prior to the issue of the grant. The €74 rate applies to a special needs pupil attending a special school or attending a special class attached to a mainstream school.

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 the Minor Works Grant 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 educational equipment, the purchase of floor coverings and window blinds, the purchase of IT related equipment, ventilation improvements, and enhancements to outdoor learning environments.

Please also note, the school referred to by the Deputy, has not submitted an application for grant aid for roof repair works under the Emergency Works Scheme or the Summer Works Scheme.