Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2019
121. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount his Department has paid out to schools to monitor and undertake short-term repair works to deal with the consequences of pyrite contamination in their buildings; the details of same by school; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some schools are bearing these expenses themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41091/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has spent approximately €27,000 on surveys and reports to monitor and establish the presence and extent of pyrite in schools where the possible existence of pyrite has been indicated.
Any structural issues arising in a school building as a result of pyrite are being dealt with under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme (EWS).
The following funding has been provided under this scheme to remediate issues with floors, doors and paths:
- St Patrick's NS Diswellstown €167,804.91
- St Michael's Holy Faith SS, Finglas €83.878.40
- St Peter's, Phibsboro €14,687.00
Funding has also been approved for Castleknock Educate Together NS to remediate issues with floors, doors and paths. However, I am not in a position to provide the level of funding at this stage as it is commercially sensitive.
I am not aware of any expenditure by schools to remediate issues caused by pyrite. If a school authority identifies any issues with a building that have been caused by pyrite, it is open to it to submit an application for funding under my Department’s Emergency Works Scheme. Application forms are available on my Department’s website.
