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Three schools across Wicklow are to receive funding for upgrades this summer, the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., has announced.

An additional €4.8 million in funding under the Summer Works Scheme and Jobs Initiative has been made available for 51 schools across the country. This brings a to a total of 878 the number of schools nationwide that are to have essential works carried out over the school holidays.

The schools in Wicklow receiving funding under today's announcement include: St Philomena's NS (Electrical); St Brigid's NS (Mechanical) and Scoil Niocláis Naofa (Mechanical).

Announcing the funding, the Minister said, "In March of this year, I indicated that €41.2 million would be available for the Summer Works Scheme for 2011, allowing 453 schools to proceed with improvements to their schools under the categories of gas, electrical and mechanical works.

"In May, as part of the Jobs Initiative, I was delighted to announced that an additional €30 million would be made available for 2011, allowing an additional 374 schools to make improvements in areas such as roofs, toilets, windows and accessibility.

"With both of these announcements, there were of course some schools who were disappointed to discover that their applications had not been successful.

"Some of these schools submitted appeals to my Department, requesting that their applications be reviewed, and we have now completed the consideration of all such appeals.

"I am pleased to announce that an additional €4.8 million is being made available to fund the projects of 51 schools who have had their appeals upheld."

In total, up to €76 million will now be spent between the Summer Works Scheme and the Jobs Initiative this summer on improving the quality of 878 schools across every part of the country, while also stimulating growth within local economies