Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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402. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications under the minor works grant by Cork schools that were refused in each of the past five years. [7414/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €5.7 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 this record level of capital investment in school infrastructure with significant funding provided to schools through the Minor Works Grant. Primary and special schools need not apply for minor works grant aid. All Primary and Special Schools automatically receive this funding including those in Co. Cork. As such, no Primary or Special School has been refused Minor Works Grant.

Since 2020, €280m has issued to schools in Minor Works funding with schools in County Cork receiving over €31 million.

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 2024/2025 was paid in April 2024.

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.