Offaly calls on government to reinstate primary school grant

Offaly County Council has called on the government to reinstate payment of the minor works grant to all primary schools in the country after support was given to a motion tabled by Independent councillor John Leahy at a meeting last Monday. Speaking to the Offaly Independent Cllr Leahy said as a result of the payment’s discontinuation many primary schools are unable to carry out vital repairs.

The minor works grant for all primary schools was abolished as part of Budget 2012. Tasks the payment had covered included the installation of new windows to replace old decayed ones, the installation of fire detection and alarm systems, the installation of boilers to replace obsolete units, the provision of new furniture, physical education equipment, floor covering and blinds and the replacement of sanitary ware in toilets.

“Primary schools now find themselves in the position where they are not able to carry out vital repairs, as the money is not there to do this,” Cllr Leahy said. “Deferred maintenance is a false economy,” he added. “Remedial works that are necessary now will end up costing more in the long run.”

Cllr Leahy said that in some cases parents of primary school children are being asked to contribute more in the form of voluntary contributions in order to carry out necessary repair works. He also referred to a recent survey by the Catholic Primary School Management Association, which found that a vast number of primary schools are near breaking point when it comes to providing essential services.

“It’s a sad day when we, as a nation, can’t guarantee a safe, secure environment for our children, when we can’t provide warm, comfortable, well equipped classrooms for our children, when we can’t guarantee that our children will be taught in well maintained schools,” Cllr Leahy said. “Let’s not forget that our children are the future in our society.”