Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2021
269. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the number and location of primary schools throughout County Kildare with a requirement for improvement and upgrade works of a major or minor nature; the extent to which such works are in hand or currently scheduled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35739/21]
View answerI would like to inform the Deputy that the responsibility for maintaining schools and their grounds lies with the relevant school authority in the first instance.
The main grant funding mechanisms for undertaking works of the nature referred to by the Deputy are the Annual Minor Works Grant or the Summer Works Scheme. The Minor Works Grant last issued to primary schools in December 2020 and provides flexibility for schools to manage and prioritise necessary small-scale works.
The Summer Works Scheme provides a mechanism for undertaking medium to larger-scale improvement works in school buildings. This Scheme operates on a multi-annual basis and the Department are currently addressing category 2 and 6 projects (toilets and roofs). There are currently 8 Schools in Kildare who have SWS projects under these Categories details of which can be found on my Departments Website.
The Emergency Works Scheme is available to all recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools to provide funding in an Emergency Situation. An emergency is a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action and, in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening. There are currently 17 approved Emergency Works Scheme projects ongoing in Kildare.
