Funds of €35m allocated to repair school toilets and roofs

Some 386 schools have received funding for upgrades to roofs and toilets under the latest round of the Department of Education’s summer works scheme.

Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn said 101,000 pupils would benefit from the €35 million investment.

This follows a similar investment last March on gas, electrical and mechanical works on what was the first round of funding for the Summer Works Scheme 2014.

Speaking today at Rathgar National School in Dublin - one of the schools which will be receiving funding to upgrade their toilet facilities - Mr Quinn said: "We want to ensure that all of our children are safe, warm and secure in their schools.

“I have approved the spending of more than €70 million on the summer works scheme in total to allow 772 schools undertake vital improvement works during the summer months when pupils are on holidays in order to minimise any disruption to the schooling.

“Despite the difficult economic environment, we are continuing to prioritise investment in school buildings which will enhance the learning and working environment for pupils and teachers.

“The news is also a welcome boost for the construction sector as it should support jobs in the communities in which these schools are situated,” he said.

The department estimates 4,200 direct and 840 indirect construction jobs will be supported as a result of the scheme.

Some 280 of the schools which will benefit from this round of funding are primary schools, while 106 are post primary schools. They represent almost 80 per cent of the total applications received from schools.

Dublin has the highest number of successful applicants at 57 schools, followed by Cork at 43.

Some 33 schools which supplied additional information to the department following round one of the scheme are also to receive money for projects relating to gas, electricity and mechanical works.

[ See here a full list of successful schools ]

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