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Minister for Education Norma Foley TD has today (13 December 2021) announced the payment of a minor works grant totaling €45m for primary schools and special schools as part of additional support in the context of COVID-19. Once-off COVID-19 minor works funding of €17m is also announced for post-primary schools.
Given that each school setting is different, individual schools are best placed to decide how best to use this funding to address their particular needs.
Arrangements are now being made for the payment of these grants to schools.
Minister Foley said:
“This significant increase in funding for schools will enable them to address both their minor works requirements and also to address small-scale ventilation improvements at school level as a short-term mitigation measure, should they require to do so.
“Minor works funding is important in terms of supporting the operation of schools generally and particularly within a COVID-19 environment. Schools may also apply for emergency works grant assistance to address larger-scale issues on a permanent basis.
“This funding also provides an opportunity for schools to enhance their outdoor learning environments for use as the weather permits."
The minor works grant funding provides good flexibility to address issues at local school level.
The works that can be undertaken under the primary minor works scheme include maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds, improvement or replacement of mechanical and electrical services, the purchase of standard furniture and physical education equipment, the purchase of floor coverings and window blinds and the purchase of IT related equipment.
A department Circular will be issued in the coming days with respect to this minor works grant funding.
Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided at the end of May following the work of an Expert Group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19.
A copy of the guidance is published on gov.ie.
In the event a HEPA air cleaner is deemed necessary to address a poorly ventilated area, the relevant technical guidance is available online.
Table 1: Showing payments at primary based on school sizes for standard Minor Works Grant
Primary Schools – Minor Works Grant 2022/2023
| School size (Enrolments) | €5,500 + €18.50 Mainstream + €74 SEN |
| 60 | €6,610 |
| 100 | €7,350 |
| 200 | €9,200 |
| 300 | €11,050 |
| 400 | €12,900 |
| 500 | €14,750 |
Calculations in this table based on number of mainstream pupils only. The top up at primary level amounts to 50 per cent of the above minor works grant.
Table 2: Post-Primary Schools COVID-19 Minor Works Grant
| School size (Number of students) | Grant amount |
| Up to 500 | €20,000 |
| 501 to 750 | €25,000 |
| 751 to 1000 | €30,000 |
| >1000 | €35,000 |
Applications from post-primary schools in the fee-charging sector will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
County-by-County breakdown of funding
| County | Total (€) |
| Carlow | 0.88m |
| Cavan | 1.23m |
| Clare | 1.75m |
| Cork | 6.97m |
| Donegal | 2.74m |
| Dublin | 12.91m |
| Galway | 4.04m |
| Kerry | 2.30m |
| Kildare | 2.58m |
| Kilkenny | 1.46m |
| Laois | 1.11m |
| Leitrim | 0.56m |
| Limerick | 2.56m |
| Longford | 0.71m |
| Louth | 1.63m |
| Mayo | 2.41m |
| Meath | 2.45m |
| Monaghan | 1.00m |
| Offaly | 1.14m |
| Roscommon | 1.20m |
| Sligo | 1.08m |
| Tipperary | 2.58m |
| Waterford | 1.52m |
| Westmeath | 1.34m |
| Wexford | 2.00m |
| Wicklow | 1.85m |
| Total | 62m |