All schools that have advanced their Summer Works Scheme projects to site under the current Scheme have received all or part of their approved funding, as appropriate, under the terms and conditions of the Scheme. There is no issue with nor has there been any delay in making approved funding available to these schools and, consequently, there are no financial implications for my Department.
The Summer Works Scheme is a devolved Scheme meaning that approved projects are devolved for delivery to schools themselves. Once projects are approved, Boards of Management are free to progress their projects in accordance with that approval. Schools request the first drawdown of their approved funding when they have advanced their projects to site with the final payment being made when the project is completed. The payment of these drawdown requests is a routine matter for my Department to ensure that schools can meet their contractual commitments.
Original Summer Works Scheme grant approvals are based on cost estimates provided by the school at the time the application for funding is made. However, as with all school building projects, the funding ultimately to be made available for each individual project is subject to a tender process outcome.
To date, 197 primary and post-primary schools have been approved funding under my Department's multi-annual Summer Works Scheme 2016/2017. Based on funding drawdowns so far this year, 79 projects are on site, 33 projects have been completed and 74 projects have not yet commenced. 11 schools have requested a deferral of their project until 2017.
