Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
100. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will provide a list of all the schools in Kildare under the summer works scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40798/26]
View answerThe purpose of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme is to enable individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works on a devolved basis that, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. The scheme operates on a multi-annual basis across a number of categories of works.
A total of 38 schools across Kildare made applications for works to be done at their schools through the scheme during the application period in early 2025. I will arrange for the list of these schools to be provided to the Deputy.
In November 2025, the Department announced the first tranche of approvals under the new Climate Action Summer Works Scheme. 297 projects were approved to proceed and involve primary, post primary and special schools, along with projects in all counties and across all categories of works. As part of the first tranche of approvals under this scheme, 5 schools in Kildare have received approvals. The next tranche of approvals under this multi-annual scheme is due in October 2026 for delivery in Summer 2027.
In the interim, the Department’s Emergency Works Scheme remains available to support schools in undertaking urgent works where funding is required due to an unforeseen or emergency situation.
Maintenance is a strong focus of my Department’s NDP Sectoral Investment Plan, and as part of this plan €2.25 billion will be allocated to support the operation of the existing school estate through clarity and certainty on Minor Works and ICT grants, rollout of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme, delivery of climate initiatives, and continued support for school maintenance through our emergency and summer works schemes. A key initiative will be the increase of minor works funding at primary level and introduction of minor works funding at post-primary level later in the NDP period.
Schools across the country, including in County Kildare, will benefit from this investment in maintenance measures as part of the NDP.
