School Accommodation Funding

Capital Works in National Schools

Capital grants are paid towards the provision of new buildings and major renovations.

Major capital works in national schools are carried out in accordance with the Department of Education and Skill's Planning and Building Guidelines. See General Design Guidelines TGD-20 and Primary School Design Guidelines TGD-22 for information (available from School Planning/Building Section of the DES website at www.education.ie)

The local contribution to the cost of new schools is 5% and capped at €63,000. The local contribution to the cost of renovations, including extensions, is 10% and capped at €31,500. In special schools and schools which are designated as serving areas of significant disadvantage the local contribution for building work is set at 5% and capped at €12,500. The local contribution from Gaelscoileanna for renovations and extensions is 10% and capped at €31,500.  There is no local contribution for devolved schemes Small Schools Scheme (SSS) and Permanent Accommodation Scheme (PAS). Since 2010 no local contribution is required for the Summer Works Scheme.

Details of the Department of Education and Skill's current Building Programme are posted on the Department's website at www.education.ie – School Planning/Building Section. FAQs, application forms and technical guidance documents are also available from the website.

Enquiries and applications for capital grants should be addressed to the Department of Education and Skills, Planning and Building Unit, Portlaoise Road, Tullamore, Co Offaly. Application forms are available to download from the DES website www.education.ie (School Planning/Building Section).

Information is also available from the School Planning/Building Section of www.education.ie regarding tendering for school building projects.

Temporary Accommodation
In 2005 the DES replaced the application process for temporary accommodation with the scheme for the provision of additional classroom accommodation (see PAS scheme above). Schools are now offered the option of a permanent structure where this is suitable. Where accommodation is required for less than a three year period then rental of a prefab may be the preferred option. If over three years then the purchase of a prefab or building of a permenent structure is recommended.

Primary school authorities are aware from October each year of the expected mainstream staffing allocation for the forthcoming year, if there is no change in the staffing schedule. School authorities should, therefore, assess their accommodation needs on that basis and make application for additional accommodation under this scheme if it is clear that there will be an immediate urgent deficit of accommodation.

For more information on this scheme log onto the School Planning/Building section of the DES website at www.education.ie. 

Review of Prefab Rental
In October 2008, the Department appointed a firm of chartered quantity surveyors to undertake a review of all prefab rental contracts in collaboration with the Planning and Building Unit. Each existing rental contract will be examined and schools with old or a high number of prefabs are being prioritised.

It is important to note that where DES buy out contracts it indicates that the prefabs will be onsite for at least a 3 year period. The school will own the prefabs. If and when the school no longer needs the prefabs they can retain for another use.

Emergency Funding
Form EWG, available to download from the School Planning and Building Section under School Buildings - Primary of www.education.ie, should be completed and returned to DES when applying for grants for emergency funding.

In March 2011, the DES issued Circular 18/2011 - scheme of capital grants for emergency works.

• Download Circular Letter 18/2011
• Download Emergency Works Scheme application form
• Download 'main changes to emergency works scheme' document

Furniture Grants
The normal procedure when applying for furniture grants is that schools submit three tenders for the required furniture to the DES Planning and Building Section (address above under Capital Grants).

Updated: October 2011