Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 September 2014
434. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to reinstate the minor works grant scheme; if her attention has been drawn to the negative impacts for many schools as a result of its loss. [35279/14]
View answerCircular Letter 0062/2013 which was published as the Minor Works Grant for the school year 2013/2014 issued last November states "the grant will only be paid in future years as funding permits". The focus under the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016 is on meeting the demand for additional school places. Consequently, there is no funding provided at this time in the 2014 capital allocation for the payment of a Minor Works Grant.
I know that whenever my Department is in a position to issue a Minor Works Grant that it is welcomed by school communities and management bodies as a valuable contribution towards the cost of maintaining school infrastructure.
