Minister Quinn announces an additional €70m for school improvements

The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., has today announced the allocation of almost €70 million for school improvements.

Over €28 million is being made available as a once-off payment to primary schools as part of the Minor Works Grant scheme. Another €40 million will be allocated under the Summer Works Scheme 2014 which is being re-introduced to fund the improvement and upgrading of existing school buildings.

The Minor Works Grant will be paid to primary schools in the coming weeks and will enable schools to undertake small scale repair works without the need to interact with the Department.

“I know that the immediate payment of this grant in 2013 will be welcomed by school communities and management bodies as a valuable contribution to the costs of maintaining school infrastructure,” said Minister Quinn.

Funding from the Summer Works Scheme will allow schools to carry out small and medium scale building workssuch as gas, electrical and mechanical works, roof and window upgrades, structural improvements; works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings.

It is up to schools to identify the most urgently required projects to be funded from the Summer Works Scheme. Each school can apply for one small scale project and will be responsible for the completion of those works.

“Despite the funding constraints on my Department’s capital budget I am pleased to re-introduce the summer works scheme in 2014. This funding package is being made as part of this Government’s continued commitment to improve facilities in schools throughout the country. These works will be carried out in schools over the summer months, when the pupils are on holidays, so the disruption to schooling will be kept to a minimum,” the Minister said.