Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 May 2018
99. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if grant aid or support will be provided for a school (details supplied) in view of the granting of planning permission for new housing developments in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23848/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware my Department approved funding for the school referred to, in June 2016, to provide additional mainstream classroom accommodation to cater for an increase in enrolment which resulted in the appointment of an additional mainstream teaching post.
In that regard, it is open to the school to submit a further application in the future, under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme, should the school enrolment position result in the appointment of a further mainstream teaching post, and where it is determined that there is a deficit in mainstream teaching accommodation.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the external works referred to are eligible to be considered for funding under the Summer Works Scheme, the purpose of which is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to facilitate carrying out small and medium scale works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings and the grounds within the school site area.
The Department intends to engage with the relevant education partners in relation to giving schools a better lead-in period for planning and delivering projects under the summer works scheme from 2019 onwards. While the Summer Works Scheme is hugely successful in enabling small scale refurbishment works to be done on a devolved basis, the Department considers that the operation of the scheme could be improved by providing a better lead-in period for schools rather than in Quarter 2 as in previous years. This will also help ensure that works done under the Summer Works Scheme fit better with any wider refurbishment/energy retrofit plans that may be done at schools under the increased funding provided in the National Development Plan. The engagement with education partners will commence shortly and will assist in developing a better timeline for the planning and delivery of summer works projects for 2019 onwards.
It remains open to the school to use its minor works grant, which all primary schools received last November, to carry out works in full or on a phased basis, as that grant permits, if the school considers the works to be a priority.
