Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 December 2013
180. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 65 of 13 November 2013, if he will detail the 14 schools unsuccessful in their applications; the most common reasons for their failure to succeed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52624/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that further to Parliamentary Question 65, details of the 14 schools in question were furnished directly to the Deputy on 28 November last. There were a number of reasons why these schools were unsuccessful in securing funding. Due to the scale of demand for funding, it was not possible to grant aid all applications received. Accordingly, commensurate with the level of funding available for the Scheme, applications were assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the Circular accompanying the Scheme. In addition, some applications included new build elements which were outside the scope of the Scheme while others applied for works that were of a maintenance nature and were appropriate to be funded from the school's capitation grant and/or Minor Works Grant Scheme in the case of primary schools. In other cases, plans were in train to upgrade schools as part of major capital projects and the proposed works therefore would have been addressed as part of the capital projects concerned.
As I advised the Deputy in my letter of 28 November, my announcement on 7th November of an additional €70 million for school improvement works will facilitate schools carrying out small and medium scale building works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings. This comprises a once-off payment of over €28 million to primary schools as part of the Minor Works Scheme and a further €40 million to facilitate the re-introduction of the Summer Works Scheme for 2014.
