330. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a recent emergency works application for a school (details supplied) was refused; and if she will ensure contact is made from her Department to the school on this serious safety issue. [67843/26]

As the Deputy may be aware, the purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide funding specifically for sudden and 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's original application was refused as the application did not fit the remit of the Emergency Works Scheme as set out in Circular Letter 0068/2020. A member of the EWS team has contacted the school to clarify the matter.