Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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749. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement her Department is having with a school (details supplied) in Donegal to deal with ongoing issues within the school including defective blocks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12526/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for a fabric defect project works, relating to testing and remediation of mica related issues with the school building.

The purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies. 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 the minimal scope of works required to remedy an emergency situation. The EWS usually provides an interim solution until such time as a comprehensive solution can be provided under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS).

The issue of mica spans across a number of school buildings and a situation of this nature requires a more holistic approach than the case-by-case basis on which the EWS usually operates. This issue is currently being worked through by senior management in order to assess the most appropriate mechanism by which the remediation of schools affected by this issue can be progressed. Once this exercise is complete, the EWS team, in the first instance, will provide further details on the proposed course of action.

The EWS team is aware of the urgent nature of the works required and will keep the school informed throughout the process.