Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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604. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to introduce funding streams or grants, of approximately €50,000, for schools for medium-to-large-scale projects, such as the development of new playgrounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1302/25]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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605. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to introduce funding streams or grants, of approximately €50,000, for the development of new playgrounds on school grounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1303/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, funding is already provided for the development of playgrounds in existing schools by my Department under the guise of the Summer Works Scheme (SWS). The purpose of the SWS is to enable individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works on a devolved basis and, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. The SWS operates on a multi-annual basis for a number of categories which could include the provision or upgrade of play areas.

My 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 2025 and beyond, Department officials are considering and planning for the next phases of the summer works programme and the opportunities this may create to support the sustainability agenda. In this regard, it is envisaged at this stage that, a Multi-Annual SWS with a focus on climate action and energy conservation will be the focus for the next summer works scheme to be opened for applications. The arrangements and timing of that SWS is still under consideration and schools will be updated in due course.