A total of 177 primary schools in Donegal are to receive a grant before the end of November to enable them to undertake small-scale repairs, under the Minor Works Scheme.
Senator Jimmy Harte has welcomed the announcement.
He also confirmed that the Summer Works scheme has been re-opened to local primary and secondary schools for the first time since 2011 describing it as “great news.”
“News that the Summer Works scheme has been reinstated for the first time in three years was confirmed by my colleague, the Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn, on Thursday.
“Funding from the scheme will allow local schools to carry out works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings. This includes small and medium scale building works such as gas, electrical and mechanical works, roof and window upgrades, or structural improvements. It also minimises the disruption to students, this scheme applies to work undertaken during non-school time.
“It will also create direct and indirect local construction jobs.”
It is up to all local primary and secondary schools to identify the most urgently required projects to be funded from the Summer Works Scheme, and to apply accordingly.
Meanwhile, the Minor Works grant will be paid to every primary school in (insert county) by the end of the month. It provides them with a small amount of funding to carry out small capital or improvement works to the school.
Each school will receive a payment of €5,500 per school, and a further €18.50 per mainstream pupil, or €74 per pupil with special needs.
“I am especially pleased that these two schemes have been announced this week. Despite the funding constraints on the Minister’s capital budget, Minister Quinn continues to improve educational infrastructure in local communities,” added Senator Harte.
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