Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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317. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the grants that are available to schools for external painting and for repair and refurbishment of indoor furniture; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29375/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €4.9 billion to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for the almost one million students and over 100,000 staff that learn and work in our schools every day. The Minor Works Grant is one important element of a record level of capital investment in school infrastructure.

My department recognises the importance of the Minor Works Grant to primary schools. This funding provides good flexibility at local level to assist schools to manage and undertake works that support the operation of the school. Under Project Ireland 2040, a commitment has been given that the Minor Works Grant will be paid in either December or January of the school year to all primary schools, including special schools.

In recent years my department’s approach has been to pay the Minor Works Grant to primary schools in advance of the start of the following school year in order to facilitate a better lead in period for schools to plan any maintenance or minor works during the summer period.

Minor Works Grant for the current school year 2023/2024 was paid in April 2023 with Minor Works Grant for the school year 2024/2025 paid in April 2024.

Since 2020 in the region of €280 million in Minor Works Grants and Enhanced Minor Works Grants has been allocated to schools. This includes the additional support in the context of Covid-19 of the payment of an Enhanced Minor Works grant totalling €45m for primary schools and special schools, plus a once-off Covid-19 minor works funding of €17m for post-primary schools. The Enhanced Minor Works grant allowed schools that identified inadequate ventilation in a room utilise their minor work grant or apply for emergency works grant assistance to address ventilation enhancements where the Minor Works Grant did not cover the full cost of the works required.

Under the Minor Works Grant scheme, funding is made available to all primary schools on the basis of a €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.

All 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 needs.

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

Additionally schools can apply for Emergency Works Scheme and Summer Works Scheme as appropriate and are assessed on a case-by-case basis. In 2023 in the region of €105m was invested, through these schemes, in over 700 small scale repair/improvement projects throughout the country. My Department also provides funding to primary schools for the replacement of loose furniture and equipment. Guidance on this process is available on and specific queries can be raised with the Furniture & Equipment section within my Department by emailing .