Sorca Clarke
Question:276. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the estimate cost of increasing the minor works grant ceiling by 1%, 5% and 10% respectively, in tabular form. [15988/24]
View answerTuesday, 16 April 2024
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Written answers
The Department recognises the importance of the Minor Works Grant to primary schools. Under Project Ireland 2040, a commitment was given that the Minor Works Grant would be paid in either December or January of the school year to all primary schools, including special schools. In recent years my Department’s approach has been to pay the Minor Works Grant to primary schools in advance of the start of the following school year in order to facilitate a better lead in period for schools to plan any maintenance or minor works during the summer period.
Primary schools need not apply for minor works grant aid.? Under the scheme, funding is made available to all primary schools on the following basis:
€5,500 basic grant plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil enrolled in the school on the 30th September of the year prior to the issue of the grant. The grant is paid on an annual basis and the current expenditure across all primary schools amounts to just over €29m. If the current ceiling rate was to increase by the above percentages the increase in expenditure would amount to €290,000, €1.45m and €2.9m respectively.
Between 2018 and 2023 in the region of €310 million in Minor Works Grants and Enhanced Minor Works Grants has been allocated to schools. The Minor Works Grant for the school year 2022/2023 was paid in December 2021 and the Minor Works Grant for the current school year 2023/2024, was paid in April 2023, to all primary schools including special schools.
Schools have the autonomy to use this funding for maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds. Given that each school setting is different, individual schools are best placed to decide how best to use this funding to address their particular needs.
The works that can be undertaken under the Minor Works Grant Scheme include maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds, improvement or replacement of mechanical and electrical services, the purchase of standard furniture and educational equipment, the purchase of floor coverings and window blinds, the purchase of IT related equipment, ventilation improvements, and enhancements to outdoor learning environments
Arrangements are currently being made for the payment of €29 million in Minor Works grants to primary schools and special schools for the forthcoming 2024/25 school year.