Funding for schools

PRIMARY schools across County Wicklow are to benefit under the Minor Works Scheme.

It was announced that all 83 primary schools in the county are to receive funding through the national scheme.

The Minor Works Scheme covers a variety of small projects in schools including improvements to school buildings and grounds, improvement or replacement of mechanical and electrical services, the purchase of standard furniture and physical education equipment, the purchase of floor coverings and window blinds, and the purchase of IT related equipment.

Each school will receive a flate rate of €5,500 plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil attending a special school or special class.

The grant is worth €6,425 for a 50-pupil school and over €11,000 for a 300-pupil school. Grants will be paid to the schools this week.

Minister of State and Wicklow TD Andrew Doyle welcomed the allocation and said that he knows that schools across the county ‘really depend on this grant’.