Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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364. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of a school’s (details supplied) application for improved toilet facilities under the emergency works scheme, as a formerly single-sex school that has transitioned to a co-educational environment, the current toilet provisions are inadequate and do not meet the needs of all students; whether serious consideration would be given for urgent approval of this application due to the circumstances of the school and the needs of the students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31683/25]

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 toilet facilities

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 school's original application was refused as the application, upon review of the school building the number of toilets and wash hand basins was adequate to meet the schools current needs. However, the EWS team have been engaging with the school and advised to reconfigure one of the boys toilets into a female toilet block.

The option remains open to the school to appeal this decision. Appeals will only be considered if additional relevant information that was not provided as part of the original application is submitted to the Department. The EWS team is continuing to engage with the school on this matter.