Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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536. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a list of all grants currently available to schools for capital works, equipment, or storage facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55474/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. In addition, over 200 SEN Repurposing projects have been delivered maximising the use of existing accommodation while creating opportunities for inclusion and integration.

My department provides the school with a range of grants to support capital works, equipment purchases, and storage facilities. These include Minor Works Grants, Capitation Grants, and ICT Grants.

The Minor Works Grant is provided to all primary and special schools, to enable them to undertake small-scale minor maintenance and improvement works on a devolved basis.??

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 the school’s particular needs.??

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.

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 issued in June 2025.

My department also provides funding to primary and post-primary schools by way of per capita grants. A €30 million permanent increase through Budget 2025 represented a 12% rise in standard rates. In Budget 2026, a further €39 million increase will bring rates to €274 (primary) and €406 (post-primary) for the 2026/2027 school year. In addition to capitation grants, schools receive ancillary/SSSF grants to support the employment of caretakers and secretaries. Schools can combine ancillary/SSSF, and capitation grants to meet operational priorities, providing flexibility in managing their financial resources, except for specific employment conditions outlined in Circular 0036/2022.

Under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027, €35 million in ICT grant funding issued in May 2025 to all recognised primary, post-primary, and special schools. This represents the third tranche of funding and brings total ICT funding to €135 million of the €200 million committed under the National Development Plan, supporting the integration of digital technologies in teaching, learning, and assessment. The initiative builds on €210 million provided under the previous 2015–2020 Digital strategy.