Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
245. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if she will take steps to ensure that her Department expedites a decision in respect of works to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31878/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers applied for asbestos removal works together with the installation of new flooring at the school, which was approved in June 2022 under the Emergency Works Scheme. The school contacted the Department in June 2023 to increase the scope of works under that approval.
The main purpose of the Emergency Works Grant Scheme is to provide for unforeseen emergencies that impact on school buildings. 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 there of from opening.
As a lot of the works contained in the new proposed scope was outside the remit of the Emergency Works Scheme, the school have been asked to re-examine their new proposed scope and scale back the works to ensure it is appropriate to the Emergency Works Scheme and resubmit for approval. The Emergency Works Scheme will, of course, address any essential works which could pose an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment and any upgrade works beyond the remit of the Emergency Works Scheme may be progressed via separate funding mechanisms within the Department. The Department has been in contact with the Principal with regards to how any residual works might be addressed at a later stage.
