Galway’s primary schools will receive at least €5,500 in grants under the Department of Education’s Minor Works programme this year.
In total €29 million will be delivered to primary schools in Galway and around Ireland in the first half of December.
Galway East TD Sean Canney welcomed the decision by the Department of Education to move forward the announcement of the Minor Works grants.
This will give principals more to decide how to best to spend the money improving their schools.
“While schools have discretion on how to use the grants for small scale works on buildings and facilities, the Department of Education offers a number of options on how to put the money to good use.
“These include improving the physical infrastructure of the school, upgrading or replacing mechanical and electrical services such as heating or lighting and buying standard furniture, physical education equipment, new floor coverings, window blinds or IT-related equipment.”
“Schools are also being advised of the importance of using the grant to address any fire safety prevention works that may be required.”
Under the Minor Works programme every primary school in the country receives a flat rate grant worth €5,500.
On top of that they receive an additional €18.50 for every pupil in mainstream class and €74 for every child with special needs who is attending a special school or special class.
This works out at €6,425 for a 50 pupil school and more than €11,000 for a school with 300 pupils.
Making the announcement Minister for Education Joe McHugh said “I know full well how important the Minor Works grant for primary schools is and how important it is for principals to have time to plan and assess what their schools need.”
The payment of the grants follows a commitment under Project Ireland 2040 that all primary schools would receive the Minor Works funding in either December or January of the relevant school year.
