Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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263. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been made on a summer works programme application by a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27666/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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An application for funding to works on the playground of the school referred to by the Deputy was received. Unfortunately, it was deemed that the scope of works for the project was considered to be outside the terms of the Emergency Works Scheme and it could not be considered for emergency funding in that context.

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.

In relation to the roof works referred to by the Deputy, I am pleased to advise you that approval was granted to the school under the 2016 Summer Works Scheme programme for repair works to the roof and these works have now been completed and all funding paid.

It was open to the school to make an application under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2020 for its most urgently required small-scale building works project. I understand that an application has been received in this respect and this was for further roof works.