The Summer Works Scheme (SWS) was introduced in 2004 to provide devolved funding to individual school authorities to undertake small scale building works which, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. Since then, thousands of projects have been completed in schools — such as gas, electrical and mechanical works, roof replacements and repairs, windows replacement, toilet upgrades, structural improvements and access works. A key principle behind this Scheme is that responsibility for the management of the project is devolved to the school authority. The school authority can make use of its local knowledge and presence on the ground to manage the project more effectively and ensure better value for money for the taxpayer.
A total of €128 million was allocated for Summer Works Scheme in 2010. The list of approved schools/projects is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. Approved 2010 Summer Works Grants for Schools in the Dublin area are as follows: Dublin Belgard Schools — in excess of €7.226 million; Dublin City Schools — in excess of €18.324 million; Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown Schools — in excess of €6.564 million; Dublin Fingal Schools — in excess of €3.659 million.