Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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374. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) has been granted funding for a rubber surface play area but have since been directed that they must use a hard tarmacadam surface which would be less safe for the pupils, if she will permit the funding to be used for a soft surface as originally approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6220/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the purpose of the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is to enable individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works on a devolved basis including external works such as play areas. However, all projects must be fully approved by my Department and be in compliance with the Department’s Technical Guidance Documents (TGD’s) before progressing to the construction phase of their project.

The SWS project for the school in question received pre-approval in 2022, but my Department only received more detailed tender documents in late 2023 which were then reviewed by my Department’s Professional and Technical Team. The technical review concluded that the current proposal for the provision of poured or tiled play surface was not in line with my Department's TGD’s. The school authority was informed of this and advised to revise the scope of works and tender documents accordingly, at which point the school can reengage with the SWS team.