€2.5 million to benefit more than 30 Galway Schools

More than 30 schools around Galway City and county will benefit from a €2.5 million investment through the Summer Works scheme.

31 Galway schools in the primary and secondary levels will benefit from the funding to help reinforce the technical works on buildings and surrounding areas. Last year, 17 schools in Galway were awarded funding. 

Most of the approved projects for the schools in Galway are for mechanical works and electrical works, as well as a few external upgrades to play areas.

Fine Gael Councillor Clodagh Higgins has welcomed the funding for Galway City and county.

“This funding is really welcomed as it will help make schools a more comfortable space for children and staff,” Councillor Higgins said.

“The Summer Works Scheme gives schools an opportunity to carry out small and medium scale building works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings,” Councillor Higgins said.

This is the third year that government has run a Summer Works scheme to help update and renovate schools throughout Ireland. The goal of the scheme is to maintain the structural integrity of the buildings by updating the technology systems and also hardware updates.

The scheme is divided up into different 10 categories, such as life safety systems, roofing, electrical working, mechanical works, and a few others.

“This vital funding will see schools across Galway undertake necessary works throughout the summer such as electrical and mechanical works, replacement of windows, roofing maintenance and repair projects along with external yards and play areas being developed and improved,” Councillor Higgins said.

The Minister of Education Norma Foley TD made the announcement on 24 January. €65 million in total will be distributed to schools across the country. The funding will help complete 497 approved projects under the scheme.

307 of the approved projects from the scheme will focus on the primary school level, working to replace and update mechanical works, electrical works, window projects, and external projects (play areas for students).

The other 190 approved projects will be focusing on post-primary schools for similar mechanical, electrical, and window projects. 

The schools that were awarded the funding for the approved projects submitted an application last year. A second part of the Summer Works scheme is currently accepting applications and funding will be announced later in the year. This funding will focus more on climate change and the environment.