Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1084. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to matters in relation to a school (details supplied); the interventions that can be made to assist the school address minor and major maintenance problems as it awaits the commencement and completion of the planned new-build and will she comment on the issue. [41322/21]
View answerI would like to inform the Deputy that the responsibility for maintaining schools and their grounds lies with the school authority in the first instance.
The main grant funding mechanisms for undertaking works of the nature referred to by the Deputy are the Annual Minor Works Grant or the Summer Works Scheme. The Minor Works Grant last issued to primary schools in December 2020 and provides flexibility for schools to manage and prioritise necessary small-scale works.
The Summer Works Scheme provides a mechanism for undertaking medium to larger-scale improvement works in school buildings. This Scheme operates on a multi-annual basis and the Department are currently addressing category 2 and 6 projects (toilets and roofs).
The Emergency Works Scheme is available to all recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools to provide funding in an Emergency Situation. An emergency is a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action and, in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening.
