Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the rejection of an application under the summer works scheme in respect of a school (details supplied); the reason the application was rejected; if his further attention has been drawn to the health and safety issues which underpinned the application for the work; the other avenues open to this school to apply for funding to remedy the health and safety issue as outlined in the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7034/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for funding under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme.

Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand for funding under the scheme, it was not possible to grant aid all applications. As outlined in the Circular governing the operation of the scheme, applications for works in the higher categories of eligible works were prioritised and it was not possible to include the school referred to by the Deputy in the list of 453 successful schools that was announced on 30 March 2011. A letter to this effect will be issuing to the school shortly.

In the meantime, for works that are of a very urgent nature, it is open to the school authorities to consider if the works in question qualify for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme. 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. Details of the Scheme, together with an application form for grant assistance, can be accessed on my Department's website at www.education.ie.