Summer Works Scheme

The purpose of the Summer Works Scheme is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works which, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. Under the terms of the scheme, school authorities are empowered to manage these works with guidance from and minimal interaction with the Department of Education.

Funding for small scale projects will be allocated in accordance with the prioritisation criteria attaching to the scheme which, in the normal course, include the ability to have the works carried out during the summer.

The Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee TD, announced details of a new multi-annual Climate Action Summer Works Scheme 2026 onwards, which will open for applications in early May. Please see below link for further details in this regard:

gov.ie - Minister McEntee opens application process for new Climate Action Summer Works Scheme

The below supporting documents will provide further information for schools to consider when making an application for Climate Action Summer Works 2026 onwards

It is envisaged that approvals in any given year will involve a spread of categories rather than the traditional single category at a time. This is aimed at managing market capacity and maximising value for money opportunities for school authorities.

The CASWS will operate on a multi-annual basis with the first tranche of projects being announced in Q4 2025 for commencement in summer 2026. Under this scheme, approved applications from schools that are not reached for funding or market prioritisation reasons (as above) in 2026 will qualify to be assessed for purposes of the funding available for climate action summer works in subsequent years.

Under previous SWS’s, applications for projects to facilitate inclusion and access for pupils or staff members with special needs and projects for life safety systems were accepted. As applications under these two headings are now dealt with on an ongoing basis by the Department’s Emergency Works Scheme (EWS), applications for these works should not be made under this CASWS.

NB: Schools can only apply for one project. Applications for multiple projects will be automatically invalidated and will not be considered.

A total of 497 projects have been approved funding under the Summer Works Scheme 2022.

307 projects at primary level have been approved in category 3 electrical works (65 schools), category 4 mechanical works (89 schools), category 7 window projects (89 schools) and category 10 external environment (yards/play areas only) (64 schools).

190 projects at post-primary level have been approved in category 2 roof works (81 schools), category 3 electrical works (12 schools), category 4 mechanical works (34 schools), category 5 science labs (23 schools) category 7 window projects (35 schools) and category 10 external environment (yards/play areas only) (5 schools). See list of approved schools 2022 below:

A new Summer Works Scheme that is being applied on a multi-annual basis commencing in summer 2020 was announced on 29 March 2019 and was open for applications until 30 June 2019. The key features of this new scheme are:

• there is a longer application period. School authorities will have a 13 week period until 30 June 2019 to submit applications under the new Summer Works Scheme. This compares to a circa. 5 week period for submitting applications under previous schemes
• school authorities will be notified in Q4 2019 of applications that are approved for delivery under the Summer Works Scheme for summer 2020. This provides a good lead in period for school authorities to manage the planning, organisation, procurement and delivery of their projects
• as schools are now required by legislation to report annually on their energy usage through the SEAI’s website Energy-in-business/Monitoring and Reporting for schools, payment of the grant to schools who receive funding under this new SWS scheme will be subject to them registering on the SEAI website and making a commitment to submitting the appropriate returns

A total of 434 projects have been approved funding under the Summer Works Scheme 2020 onwards. 163 primary and post primary schools who made applications under Category 1 (Life Safety Systems) were included in the first round of successful applicants approved funding in November 2019 for projects to be delivered in summer 2020. A further 271 schools were approved funding in December 2020 for applications made under Category 2 (Primary Schools only) and Category 6. See list of approved schools 2020 and 2021 below:

Schools approved funding for Summer Works Projects must comply with the department’s Technical Guidance Documents. Schools approved projects for funding for the Summer Works Scheme 2021 must also read the following document:

All applicants have been notified via the department’s online Esinet Portal of the outcome of their application. Commensurate with the level of funding set aside for the Scheme, applications are being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the Circular accompanying the Scheme. In that regard, remaining applications submitted under categories 2 to 10 will be considered under future rounds of the Summer Works Scheme.

Related

Building works for the construction, extension and refurbishment of schools