Ballybay and Mount Temple among schools to benefit from summer works grants
Ballybay NS in Kiltoom, An Grianán NS in Mount Temple and Dean Kelly NS in Athlone are among the local schools to benefit from summer works grants which were announced by the Department of Education today (Monday).
These grants are given to certain schools each year to fund small and medium-scale improvements to existing school buildings during the summer months.
Roof upgrades, electrical works, window replacements and improvements to toilet facilities are some of the projects that can be funded through the grants.
In Westmeath, grants totalling €860,000 were announced for nine schools across the primary and post-primary sector, while in Roscommon eleven schools are to benefit from grants amounting to €1 million in total.
Schools in South Westmeath and South Roscommon which were among the grant recipients included: Dean Kelly NS, Athlone (windows), An Grianán NS, Mount Temple (electrical works), SN Ronain, Castlesampson (windows) and Ballybay NS (windows).
Nationally, €65 million is being awarded to 497 projects under the Department's 2022 Summer Works Scheme.
Ballinasloe Fine Gael Senator Aisling Dolan welcomed the funding for schools in Roscommon.
"This funding from the Department of Education is so welcome in schools, especially when principals, caretakers and teaching staff were going over and above to make our classrooms safe," she said in a statement.
"The funding of €1 million (for eleven Roscommon schools) will be used for many types of projects to improve the school premises for pupils.
"The improvement or replacement of windows is crucial for ventilation, and the Summer Works Scheme will support primary schools including Castlesampson in Taughmaconnell and Ballybay National School in Kiltoom as well as St Nathy’s College in Ballaghaderreen."
The full list of Westmeath and Roscommon schools being awarded funding under the 2022 Summer Works Scheme is as follows:
Westmeath
* S N Bhride (primary school, external environment works)
* Ballynacargy Mixed NS (primary school, external environment works)
* SN Deaghan O Ceallaigh (primary school, improvements to windows)
* An Ghrianan NS (primary school, electrical works)
* Scoil Chroi Naofa (primary school, electrical works)
* Loreto College (post-primary school, improvements to windows)
* Wilson's Hospital School (post-primary school, roof works)
* Columba College (post-primary school, roof works)
* Mullingar Community College (post-primary school, improvements to windows)
Roscommon
* Rooskey NS (primary school, external environment works)
* SN Ronain (primary school, improvements to windows)
* Carrick NS (primary school, external environment works)
* Ballybay National School (primary school, improvements to windows)
* Scoil Bhride (primary school, external environment works)
* Scoil Muire gan Smal (post-primary school, roof works)
* Scoil Mhuire (post-primary school, roof works)
* St Nathy's College (post-primary school, improvements to windows)
* Elphin Community College (post-primary school, mechanical works)
* Roscommon Community College (post-primary school, mechanical works)
* Castlerea Community School (post-primary school, science labs, including gas works)