Primary schools welcome restoration of €28m repairs fund

Teachers and principals have welcomed the restoration of a €28 million fund for repairs and maintenance across all primary schools this year.

Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan said the minor works grant will be issued next week at a rate of roughly €6,000 to €12,000 depending on the size of the school.

The grant, paid to all all primary schools with permanent recognition, was abolished in 2012 due to budgetary pressures.

Last year, former minister Ruairí Quinn found additional funding to cover the works after an outcry from primary schools and Ms O’Sullivan has similarly secured additional funding following the budget.

The rates payable are €5,500 per school plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil. The grant is worth €6,425 for a 50 pupil school and more than €11,000 for a 300 pupil school.

“The minor works grant is an important funding injection for primary schools and . . . I know the funding is put to very effective use by schools,” said Ms O’Sullivan.

“I will assess my department’s capital position this time next year to determine the prospects of a 2015/2016 minor works grant.”

The grant can be used for repairs, furniture or new mechanical, electrical or IT related equipment.

The primary teachers’ union the INTO welcomed the announcement.

Union general secretary Sheila Nunan said many schools were in a very precarious financial position and needed the funding to ensure that vital repairs and upgrades could go ahead.

“Much recent investment was simply making up for years of failing to upkeep buildings. Cutting out regular upkeep and maintenance is a false economy,” she said.

“Never in our experience has a grant been so welcome to schools,” remarked Seán Cottrell, head of the primary principals network IPPN.

However, he said, “the grant in many cases will be spent to cover bills that have accrued since last June’s capitation grant. This is a perennial problem. Schools are paid the annual grants approximately six months in arrears.”