John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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218. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on works for a school (details supplied). [23783/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I should explain firstly that there is an Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) within my Department, the purpose of which is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies, including life safety issues. It does so by ensuring the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools that are in need of resources as a result of an emergency situation. 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.

The school to which the deputy refers has not yet submitted an EWS application to address the issues raised by the fire safety officer. However, in order to be of assistance, officials in the EWS area have spoken to the principal of this school and have advised the school to submit an application for funding under the EWS. The EWS team will assess this application once it is received and a technical site visit to address the concerns of the fire safety officer will be arranged as appropriate.