Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

132. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills following her announcement of €65 million in minor works and ICT funding for schools, if she will confirm the difference between funding allocated in 2024 and the funding for 2025.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30146/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department recently announced €65 million in funding to support minor works grant and digital learning in schools.

My department recognises the importance of the Minor Works Grant to primary schools. The Minor Works Grant is provided to all primary and special schools, to enable them undertake small-scale minor maintenance and improvement works on a devolved basis. I recently announced that Minor works for the 20252/2026 school would be paid in June 2025.

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 schools, including special schools. In recent years, my department’s approach has been to pay the Minor Works Grant to 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.

Since 2020, €310 million in Minor Works Grants and Enhanced Minor Works Grants, have been allocated to schools. This includes the payment of Minor Works Grants totalling almost €30 million for the school year 2025/2026 which has issued this week

Primary and special schools need not apply for Minor Works Grant aid. 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 Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and its associated implementation plan is underpinned by funding of €200 million for schools in the form of the ICT Grant over the course of the strategy, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The funding allocation model is provided for in the National Development Plan and outlines funding to issue over the period of the NDP, applied by the Department for the Digital Strategy duration (to 2027 for the current strategy).

To date, a total of €100 million of the €200 million committed for in the NDP for the strategy has issued to schools through the ICT grant. The NDP commitment did not guarantee a specific amount in each year however, it is anticipated that issuing €35m in 2025, as announced will enable the balance of €65 million remaining to issue to schools over the remaining years of the current strategy to 2027.

This funding underpins the ongoing commitment to supporting and enabling schools to continue to embed the use of digital technologies to enhance teaching, learning and assessment.

As part of the NDP Review process, all departments, including my department, are currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with respect to NDP allocations for the period 2026-2030.? It is expected that there will be clarity on these allocations over the course of the summer period, and this will allow my department to plan its capital investment programme including Minor Works and ICT grants for the 2026 to 2030 period in line with prioritised needs and reflecting, as appropriate, wider Government priorities.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

133. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the ICT grant allocation to each applicable school in County Monaghan in 2025; the corresponding allocations for 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31134/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced €35 million in funding to support digital learning in schools. €35 million in grant funding for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) will issue shortly to all recognised primary and post-primary schools.

This ICT funding is being provided to schools to help them continue to use digital technologies in their teaching, learning and assessment and which represents the third tranche of ICT funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027.

The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and it's associated implementation plan is underpinned by funding of €200m over the course of the strategy, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The funding allocation model is provided for in the National Development Plan and commits to funding to issue over the period of the NDP, applied by the Department for the Digital Strategy duration (to 2027 for the current strategy).

To date, a total of €100 million of the €200 million committed for in the NDP for the strategy has issued to schools through the ICT grant. While the NDP commitment did not guarantee a specific amount in each year however, it is anticipated that issuing €35m in 2025, as announced by the Minister, will enable the balance of €65 million remaining to issue to schools over the remaining years of the current strategy to 2027.

This funding underpins the ongoing commitment to supporting and enabling schools to ensure the continued embedding of digital technologies in teaching learning and assessment.

The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the breakdown of ICT grants paid to County Monaghan schools for both 2023/2024 and 2024/25 school years is attached.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

134. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the ICT grant allocation to each applicable school in County Cavan in 2025; the corresponding allocations for 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31135/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced €35 million in funding to support digital learning in schools. €35 million in grant funding for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) will issue shortly to all recognised primary and post-primary schools.

This ICT funding is being provided to schools to help them continue to use digital technologies in their teaching, learning and assessment and which represents the third tranche of ICT funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027.

The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and it's associated implementation plan is underpinned by funding of €200m over the course of the strategy, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The funding allocation model is provided for in the National Development Plan and commits to funding to issue over the period of the NDP, applied by the Department for the Digital Strategy duration (to 2027 for the current strategy).

To date, a total of €100 million of the €200 million committed for in the NDP for the strategy has issued to schools through the ICT grant. While the NDP commitment did not guarantee a specific amount in each year however, it is anticipated that issuing €35m in 2025, as announced by the Minister, will enable the balance of €65 million remaining to issue to schools over the remaining years of the current strategy to 2027.

This funding underpins the ongoing commitment to supporting and enabling schools to ensure the continued embedding of digital technologies in teaching learning and assessment.

The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the breakdown of ICT grants paid to County Cavan schools for both 2023/2024 and 2024/25 school years is attached.