Readers like you keep news free for everyone.
More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.
For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.
hand of carpenter via Shutterstock
# fixing it
School repair grants worth €68m reintroduced
The grants were scrapped in 2012. They’ll allow schools to carry out minor works like fixing roofs and windows.
THE REINTRODUCTION OF school grants worth €68 million has been confirmed this morning. Education Minister Ruairí Quinn has announced he’s restoring the ‘Minor Works Grant’ – worth €28 million – and the ‘Summer Works Scheme’ (€40 million).
The minor works payments will be given to primary schools in the coming weeks, enabling management to carry out small-scale repairs without the need to apply to the Department.
Each school can also apply for money under the summer repairs scheme for small- to medium-scale projects like gas, electrical and mechanical works, roof and window upgrades and structural improvements.
According to Minister Quinn: “This funding package is being made as part of this Government’s continued commitment to improve facilities in schools throughout the country.”
Regarding the summer scheme, he said the fact that the works would be carried out while pupils are on holidays would keep disruption to a minimum. “This scheme will not only improve the learning environment for thousands of students, but the projects will also stimulate economic activity by supporting 2,400 direct and 480 indirect much needed construction jobs in the local economy”.
