Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when emergency funding will be available for repairs to a school (details supplied) in County Carlow in view of the fact that their existing facilities have been deemed unfit for use by qualified engineers. [17040/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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An application under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to fully refurbish the home economics room, address Health and Safety issues in the corridors and classrooms and for the provision of disabled access facilities has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy.

The purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme is solely for unforeseen emergencies or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for special needs pupils. An emergency is deemed to be 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.

As the scope of works for the refurbishment element of this project is outside the terms of the Emergency Works Scheme it cannot be considered for emergency funding. The school has been informed of the decision.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department recently approved emergency funding for the provision of the disabled access facilities at the school in question.