Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will assist with the emergency provision of a boiler for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66635/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Officials from the Department's emergency works team have been in contact with the school today, 26 November, to assist them in submitting an emergency works application to deal with the school boiler. The school has been advised of next steps in terms of an emergency works application.

As the Deputy maybe aware, 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 usually 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 EWS is open to primary and post primary schools with permanent recognition and in non-rented accommodation.

In relation to the school's application under the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme (CASWS), the first tranche of approvals under the new Climate Action Summer Works Scheme were announced earlier in November. Given that funding is limited in any particular year it is necessary to prioritise applications. Under the new climate action summer works scheme which operates on a multi-annual basis , like previous summer works schemes, applications from schools that are not reached for funding or market prioritisation reasons (as above) in 2026 will qualify to be assessed for purposes of the funding available for climate action summer works in subsequent years