Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020
447. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which extra buildings are being availed of to facilitate extra measures required in primary and second level schools nationwide arising from Covid-19; if there are further plans in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40468/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, my Department published the Roadmap for Full Return to School on July 27 2020, enabling schools to safely open, and remain open, from the end of August. The importance and significance of ensuring schools safely opened, and remain safely open, is a national priority for Government.
As set out in the Roadmap, the implementation of the COVID-19 Response Plan by a school is the means through which schools can best prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19 and demonstrate that they are operating in accordance with the requirements of the Roadmap and public health advice.
It was acknowledged the Roadmap, that the full implementation of the COVID-19 Response Plan by a school may necessitate some reconfiguration works within a school. Given that each school setting is different, my Department determined that individual schools were best placed to decide on the appropriate re-configuration works for their school.
Schools were supported to this end by the provision of minor works grant funding. By providing funding to schools in this way, schools had the necessary flexibility to implement necessary measures in their school quickly to support the reopening process. €105 million was provided to primary and post primary schools in August this year to support this work.
In addition, I recently announced a further €55 million minor work grant funding to primary and post primary schools to provide flexibility at local level to assist schools to manage in the Covid environment and to put sustainable arrangements in place to support the operation of their school through reconfiguration of classroom space, re-purposing rooms to provide additional space, adapting storage facilities, purchasing furniture, altering desk layouts etc. This most recent announcement also gives schools a good lead-in period for planning and undertaking works they view as necessary in 2021.
As funding was allocated on a devolved basis, my Department has not collected data on the number of extra buildings that are being utilised as a result of Covid-19.
