Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline all available grant funding for schools for minor works such as repairs and painting, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29260/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 for primary and special schools is one important element of a record level of capital investment in school infrastructure.

Minor Works Grant 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 was given that the Minor Works Grant would be paid to primary and special schools in either December or January of the school year. However, in recent years my department’s approach has been to pay the Minor Works Grant 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.

The Minor Works Grant for the school year 2023/2024 was paid in April 2023 with the 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 additional support provided in the context of Covid-19.

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 in accordance with priority needs that they have identified.

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

In addition, in 2023, approximately €92 million was invested through the Emergency Works and Summer Works Schemes in over 700 small scale repair/improvement projects.

My department also provides funding to primary and post-primary schools by way of per capita grants. As part of the capitation package in Budget 2024 I am pleased to have secured €21 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools. This will support a permanent restoration of funding for all primary and post-primary schools from September 2024 and will bring the basic rate of capitation grant to the pre-2011 level of €200 per student in primary schools and €345 per student in post primary schools. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils. This represents an increase of approximately 9.2% on current standard and the relevant enhanced capitation rates.

The Department has recently produced an updated maintenance manual for schools as part of supporting the development of a good maintenance regime for school buildings and external spaces.

The guidance focuses on the main issues schools need to consider in supporting maintenance and, in that regard, contains useful checklists for use by individual schools. The guidance is a live document, which is provided in an online, easy to read format and will continue to be updated and developed over time.