Minister O’Brien welcomes €55m minor works grant payments for schools

Local Minister Darragh O’Brien has welcomed the announcement of €55million in minor works grant payments for schools.

The Department of Education’s capital budget was increased to facilitate the payment of these grants in December 2020. The earlier payment of these grants will also facilitate a strong roll-out of school building projects in 2021.

Minister O’Brien said it was particularly important that additional funding for COVID-19 related works was included in the grant this year.

He said, “I am very glad to see this announcement and that it will be paid out to primary and post-primary schools in early December. Without question this year has been very difficult for our schools and this funding will be most welcome. 

“The €55 million payments involves an additional €25m funding for COVID-19 related minor works at post-primary level and the bringing forward from 2021 the standard €30m minor works grant at primary level.

“This means that schools can undertake works such as enhancing ventilation, purchasing furniture or adapting toilet areas and that they will get a good lead-in period for planning and undertaking works in 2021.

“Teachers, principals and students have all had to adapt to a great extent in response to this pandemic. This grant goes a small way to making it easier for schools to continue to provide a very high standard of education in a safe environment for students.”