IPPN

Last Updated: Thursday, 07 November 2013 16:40

Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) welcomes today’s announcement by Minister Quinn of additional investment by the Department of Education and Skills in the Minor Works and Summer Works Scheme.

IPPN has called for the immediate restoration of these grants on a number of occasions and most recently in its Pre-budget submission to the Department. IPPN considers the restoration of these grants to be crucial to schools’ survival. School buildings require regular maintenance and failure to invest in maintenance only adds to the cost in the long term and contributes to Health and Safety issues.

Although, the Minor Works Grant has only been restored as a once off payment, IPPN calls on the Minister to restore the payment on an annual basis.

Sean Cottrell, Executive Director of IPPN, stated that “it makes economic sense to maintain assets, which otherwise fall into disrepair and require further capital investment in years to come. A stitch in time saves nine – a wisdom that still rings true”.

The Minor Works Grant (€28million) will be paid to all schools in the coming weeks allowing them to undertake small scale repair works without the need to interact with the DES.

IPPN, while welcoming this announcement, feels that the window for applications to the Summer Works Scheme is too tight. Boards of Management need more than a month to get required paperwork in order. As it stands, applications for the Summer Works Scheme (€40million) can be made from 12 November and the closing date for applications is 10 December 2013.

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Click here to view DES press release
Click here to view DES Ciruclar 59/2013 - Summer Works Scheme 2014