Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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220. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision not to assist a school (details supplied) with an urgently needed set down area for children to be safely left off due to it being deemed that it was more suitable to carry out work via SWS, can be reviewed; if she is aware of the urgency of the situation given that a near fatal accident occurred as children were crossing the busy N56 road; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44724/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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An official from my Department's Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) Section has been in contact with the principal of the school in question in respect of this issue and has advised that following a review of the EWS application in question, the decision has been taken that the application does not qualify under the EWS criteria as outlined below.

However given the nature of the incident referred to officials from my Department will liaise further with the School Principal to explore possible solutions.

The main purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to ensure the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools that are most in need of resources as a result of an emergency situation or on receipt of an enrolment application from a special needs pupil. 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 thereof from opening. The purpose of this scheme is solely for unforeseen emergencies and to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for special needs pupils.

The option is open to the school to make an application to upgrade the set down area under the Summer Works Scheme once it opens up for applications. In the meantime the School should engage with the Local Authority to explore solutions around the traffic management concerns.