Press release
Minister Foley announces €31m Summer Works Scheme for 2021
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Education Norma Foley TD has today (Monday 7 December 2020) announced the approval of 275 projects to be delivered under the 2021 Summer Works Scheme.
The Minister said:
“I am pleased to confirm the provision of a funding investment of just over €31 million to facilitate the delivery of 275 projects under the 2021 Summer Works Scheme.
“I am announcing these now in quarter 4 of 2020 so that schools have a good lead-in period to plan and deliver the projects in summer 2021.
“School communities have done an exceptional job in adapting to the changes required to operate safely in a Covid-19 environment. A key priority is to continue to support and sustain the operation of schools in this context.”
The upgrade of toilet and other sanitary facilities is being brought forward for delivery as part of the 2021 Summer Works Scheme. These 122 projects are in Category 6 of the multi-annual scheme and are being approved for delivery along with Category 2 roof upgrade/replacement projects for 153 primary schools.
Minister Foley said:
“Projects approved under the Summer Works Scheme are in addition to the €160m minor works funding my Department has already provided, which is particularly important in helping schools to manage and operate in a Covid environment. I am pleased to announce this package of funding for schools and to make further progress in delivering Summer Works Scheme projects for schools around the country.
“I am pleased that we have been able to provide this additional funding and to notify schools in this timely way. All schools approved for the 2021 Summer Works Scheme are being notified by the Department of the next steps involved in the delivery of their projects.”
ENDS
The list of approved projects is available here
The Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is designed to allow schools to carry out small and medium scale building works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings.
This package will allow Category 2 projects (Roof works) to be completed at primary level and Category 6 projects (toilet facilities) to be completed at primary and post-primary levels.
The categories of projects under the Scheme are as follows:
Category 1: Life Safety Systems (Fire Alarm, Fire Detection and Emergency Lighting)
Category 2: Roof Works
Category 3: Electrical Works (other than Life Safety Systems)
Category 4: Mechanical Works
Category 5: Science Labs (incl. Gas Works)
Category 6: Toilet facilities
Category 7: Windows Projects
Category 8: Curricular Requirements (excl. Science Labs)
Category 9: Fabric defects
Category 10: External environment projects
The scheme provides flexibility in determining which categories (or parts of categories) get approved in any given year.
Category 1 was part of the 2020 Summer Works Scheme.
Schools must also comply with the Department’s Technical Guidance Documents and must also read the “Important information for schools approved 2021 SWS Projects” available on the Department’s website https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/Building-Works/Summer-Works/
Schools are required by legislation to report their energy use annually online through the Sustainable Energy Association of Ireland. As part of the Government’s Climate Action Plan, schools that have summer works projects are required to register online with the SEAI, and commit to submit the appropriate returns, before any payments can issue in respect of the approved projects.