Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, has announced that 386 schools across every county in Ireland will be able to undertake school improvements this summer.

Almost €36 million is being provided by the Department of Education and Skills under the first round of funding for the Summer Works Scheme 2014.

The successful schools will receive money to improve and upgrade existing school buildings. The first round of funding will allow schools to carry out small and medium scale building works across three categories of projects - Gas, Electrical & Mechanical.

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A second round of the scheme is expected to be announced in coming weeks. This round will cover other types of improvement works, with applications still being assessed.

Speaking at one of the schools who will receive funding, Ringsend College in Dublin, Minister Quinn said: "More than 98,000 students in primary and second level schools will benefit as a result of the funding we are making available today under the Summer Works Scheme for 2014.

"Today's announcement is part of this Government's continued commitment to improve facilities in schools throughout the country.

"These works will be carried out in schools over the summer months, when the pupils are on holidays, so the disruption to schooling will be kept to a minimum."

(CD)