Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 December 2021
86. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the grants available outside of the capitation grant scheme that a school can access in order to fund repairs to its roof and address electrical wiring issues; if she will fund a school in Leixlip County Kildare (details supplied); if she can make provision in respect of bringing some of the school’s rooms back into use. [59547/21]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department administers a number of grants that can be used to address the issues raised.
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 I announced the schools approved under Category 2 Roofs (Primary Schools only) and Category 6 (Toilet Refurbishment Primary and Post Primary Schools) in the final quarter of 2020.
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.
The Emergency Works Scheme appears to be the correct grant funding mechanism for undertaking these works mentioned in this instance. The application form can be downloaded and uploaded when complete via the schools Esinet portal.
