Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2015
692. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to provide grant aid to primary schools to develop playgrounds where such facilities are lacking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30333/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that in November 2014, I announced the allocation of more than €28 million to primary schools under the Minor Works Grant Scheme. This will allow schools to carry out improvement works to school buildings and grounds. It is open to schools to prioritise the works they wish to undertake within the terms of the scheme. The works to which the Deputy refers could be considered by schools in this context.
It is also open to schools to apply for funding under any future Summer Works Schemes (SWS) for the works in question. The purpose of the SWS is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to facilitate schools carrying out small and medium scale improvement works that will upgrade existing school facilities.
