New year boost for schools

A NUMBER of schools on the Northside have reason to look forward to the new year after the Government announced details of the 2020 Summer Works Scheme.

Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD recently launched a €30 million package for 405 schools around the country to carry out specialist improvements.

The local schools to benefit will include:

• St Francis Junior National School, Priorswood (External Environment),

• St Francis Senior National School (Life Safety Systems), 

• St Laurence’s National School, (External Environment),

• Scoil Bhride, Donaghmede (External Environment),

• Grange Community College, Donaghmede (Life Safety Systems) and 

• Manor House School, Raheny (Life Safety Systems).

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton TD welcomed funding for six Dublin Bay North schools that were approved for improvement works this summer through the scheme. 

“These works are a vital investment for the future of education in both primary and post-primary schools,” said Minister Bruton.

Senator Catherine Noone, a Fine Gael candidate in Dublin Bay North for the general election, also welcomed news of the local schools that made it on to the list. 

“Minister McHugh confirmed to me that four primary and two post-primary schools in Dublin Northside East will receive funding for major improvement works which is positive news for staff and students alike,” Senator Noone said.

Speaking at the announcement, Minister McHugh said: “Our focus is on three fronts – we have prioritised money to upgrade and improve life safety systems like fire alarms and detection and emergency lighting; we are funding new surfaces on play areas and car parks; and schools will be obliged to plan for electric vehicle charging.

“In total 405 primary and post-primary schools will benefit from the Summer Works Scheme – that’s more than a tenth of all the schools in the country in one go.”

A climate action initiative has been included in the Summer Works Scheme 2020 to ensure schools future proof for electric vehicles.

Any school which receives funding for car parking and play areas will be required to identify a point for electric vehicle charging. 

The funding will allow for specialist electric ducting under play and car parking areas in order to ensure resurfaced areas are not dug up in the future.

Minister McHugh said the climate action element of this year’s summer works is a sensible plan for the future. 

“More and more electric charging points are coming on stream and it is symbolic that schools will be demonstrating how important initiatives like this are,” he said. 

“The work will be carried out in schools mainly over the summer months, so the disruption to students, teachers and other staff will be kept to a minimum.”

Schools on the list were given notice of the impending work before Christmas.

Minister McHugh added: “We have also made sure that schools are getting the notification several weeks earlier than last year (2018) to try to give principals and boards of management a better lead-in time to plan and then get the work done.”