Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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126. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a school (details supplied) with financial assistance to cover costs for essential upgrades, including electrical system, fire alarm, plumbing, and groundworks, necessary for Tusla compliance under the emergency works scheme; if there are other financial aid programs available to assist with these costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45604/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies, or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for pupils with special needs. 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 EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope works to address the emergency situation. The EWS is intended to remedy an emergency situation and provides only an interim measure until a permanent solution can be delivered under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) which deals with upgrade works to the school.

The option is open to the school to make an application under the EWS for any works that the school deems might fall under the remit of an emergency.

In respect of the upgrade works referenced by the Deputy, it should be noted that the purpose of the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works which, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school.

The Summer Works Scheme plays an important role in the maintenance and upgrade of the condition of our schools. It provides important opportunities for enhancing the facilities in a school such as upgrade works to roofs, windows, Life Safety Systems, Electrical systems, heating systems and External works etc. The SWS was last open for applications in 2019.

As part of it’s planning, Department officials are considering and planning for the next phases of the summer works programme and the opportunities this may create to support the sustainability agenda. In this regard, it is envisaged at this stage that, a multi-annual SWS with a focus on climate action and energy conservation will be the focus for the next summer works scheme to be opened for applications. The arrangements and timing of that SWS is still under consideration and schools will be updated in due course.