Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Again, I thank both Deputies for giving me the opportunity to outline the Department of Education's position. The Department has been engaging with the school, as is evident from my response, regarding the level of detailed knowledge around the challenges that exist in the emergency works scheme application received. The Department will continue to keep the school informed throughout that process.

The point about the dry test is that the emergency works scheme is not for large-scale roof replacement, if that is what is required. It is for short-term, interim measures that schools can take to remain open and operational. I fully accept what the Deputies are saying about the extent of the impact on the students, staff, parents and everyone involved here but, ultimately, the vehicle for that full scale, bigger job is the summer works programme. The school will already be aware of how to apply for that scheme.

In terms of the emergency works scheme, if there are certain parts of the roof where small measures or interventions can be done now and which would get some of those areas open again, the Department is open to that. The results of the dry test will feed into that consideration, but the broader job, as I understand it, is more likely to fit in with the summer works scheme.

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