Schools spent up to €7k applying for cut grants

ALMOST 400 schools in nine counties have been left up to €7,000 out of pocket after submitting reports with applications for a building grants scheme that was cancelled by the Government.

The total paid was about €317,000, suggesting school boards and parents have wasted up to €1 million nationally, based on the fact that at least 1,200 schools applied for funding under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) last September.

The scheme was set up in 2004 to allow schools carry out non-urgent repairs and maintenance to buildings during the holiday months.