Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
109. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to improve access to remedial and improvement works funding for schools in County Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11020/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraBetween 2020 and 2025, my department has provided €142.68 million in capital funding for Waterford schools. Over this period, a total of 32 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation.
There are currently 7 school projects in Waterford under construction. Another 2 school projects will go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027. Furthermore, as part of the first tranche of approvals under the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme, 6 schools in Waterford have received approvals. This scheme enables individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works and includes an additional climate works dimension for the first time. All primary schools, including those in Waterford, received their Minor Works grant funding for the 2026/2027 school in December 2025. The emergency works scheme also remains available to schools to apply for funding for emergency works.
In the past 5 years over €990 million has been invested in the school estate to support ongoing maintenance and improvement works across a range of programmes, including the Minor Works Grant, Emergency Works Scheme, Summer Works Scheme and the Furniture and Equipment Scheme.
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 plans to increase 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 Waterford, will benefit from this investment in maintenance measures as part of the NDP.
