Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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347. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the opening of applications for the summer works scheme 2025; and if a detailed timeline for the application process can be provided to schools. [5901/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the purpose of the Summer Works Scheme (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 and was last opened for applications in 2019.

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. The arrangements and timing of that SWS is still under consideration and schools will be updated in due course.