Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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54. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application under the 2025-2026 summer works scheme (details supplied); and if she will assist in expediting the application in view of the urgent need for improvements. [57453/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme (CASWS) 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 CASWS operates on a multi-annual basis across a number of categories of works such as Curricular Requirements, which could include the upgrade or refurbishment of a Home Economics room.

I can confirm my department has received an application under the CASWS for the school in question.

It is envisaged that approvals in any given year will involve a spread of categories rather than the traditional single category at a time. This is aimed at managing market capacity and maximising value for money opportunities for school authorities.

The CASWS will operate on a multi-annual basis with the first tranche of projects being announced in Q4 2025 for commencement in summer 2026. Under this scheme, approved applications from schools that are not reached for funding or market prioritisation reasons (as above) in 2026 will qualify to be assessed for purposes of the funding available for climate action summer works in subsequent years.

Full details of the new CASWS, Circular (0029/2025) for the scheme and guidance documents for schools can be found at the below link;

www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/summer-works-scheme/