Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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501. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason an application for emergency works for a school (details supplied) was refused an increase in funding; if additional funding will be allocated to cover the cost of these works given the significant financial strain the works will put on the school and to acknowledge the increase in construction inflation; if the school has an opportunity to submit an appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51992/25]

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 toilet facilities project.

As the Deputy maybe aware, 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 school's EWS application was approved, however the additional works sought afterwards were not, on the basis that works being sought did not qualify for funding under the EWS.

However, the option remains open to the school to appeal this decision. Appeals will only be considered if significant additional relevant information that was not provided as part of the original application.