Funding boost for schools

ALMOST 60 schools are to benefit from an extra €16 million spend on the Department of Education’s school building programme.

It includes €13 million for significant refurbishment works at 19 second-level schools in 13 counties, with an emphasis on science and technology facilities. A further €3 million for 38 primary and second-level schools is being added to the Summer Works Scheme which funds important small scale structural, health and safety and other works.

The projects announced by Education Minister Mary Hanafin are among 1,300 to be funded under her department’s €500 million building programme this year.