Written answers
Thursday, 2 July 2026
Department of Education and Skills
Departmental Data
Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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314. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for a list of the emergency works applications received by her Department in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026 for a school (details supplied). [50508/26]
Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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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 school in question, Coolmine Community School have submitted the following applications to the Emergency Works Scheme in years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026:
2025 - Application 5218 - Category 1: Life Safety Systems - Department reverted to School for further information on this application, the latest correspondence being 21st May 2026. When the requested information is received the Department will review the information provided.
2025 - Application 5146 - Category 4: Special Needs Facilities/ Universal Access - Approved
2023 - Application 3484 - Category 2: Roof Works - Approved.
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