Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2026
356. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a schedule of the number of applications made to the emergency works grant scheme in 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the number that were approved, rejected and granted on appeal; and if she will provide a schedule of the amounts granted, by county for each year. [3269/26]
View answer358. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools currently in a backlog to have their emergency works grant scheme assessed and or approved. [3274/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 356 and 358 together.
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.
It should be noted that all applications received into the EWS are assigned and assessed shortly after receipt of the application. Where an application meets the criteria and has provided all required information it is normally approved within days of initial receipt. However, in the majority of cases further engagement with the applicant school is required and the application(s) in question remain in a status of 'awaiting assessment' until such time as the required information in received. As such, there is no formal backlog within the Department pertaining to the EWS
With respect to applications made, application approved and rejected under the emergency works grant scheme in 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026 please see below, any applications not approved or rejected remain live on the system:
|
Year |
Number of applications |
Approved |
Rejected |
|
2023 |
1114 |
834 |
199 |
|
2024 |
1265 |
918 |
163 |
|
2025 |
1414 |
751 |
368 |
|
2026 to date |
37 |
3 |
3 |
In respect of the amount granted, the below table sets out the amounts of EWS funding drawndown per county for the years 2023 to 2025. It should be noted that while projects have been approved in 2026, spend is only recorded when it is drawndown by the relevant school authority.
|
County |
2025 |
2024 |
2023 |
|
Carlow |
432,430.48 |
807,932.81 |
507,365.41 |
|
Cavan |
927,305.66 |
1,070,036.33 |
1,716,229.38 |
|
Clare |
1,470,832.21 |
2,011,998.09 |
741,774.91 |
|
Cork |
6,424,826.73 |
7,332,247.75 |
4,870,879.66 |
|
Donegal |
2,034,546.69 |
1,919,526.30 |
1,339,332.57 |
|
Dublin |
22,070,746.24 |
28,883,727.30 |
13,873,469.66 |
|
Galway |
4,513,251.58 |
3,464,773.48 |
2,088,365.60 |
|
Kerry |
1,645,854.63 |
2,794,703.31 |
2,114,805.82 |
|
Kildare |
2,490,725.04 |
3,908,593.04 |
1,353,295.47 |
|
Kilkenny |
1,227,760.39 |
1,395,867.17 |
1,025,518.03 |
|
Laois |
515,535.39 |
519,510.16 |
212,967.98 |
|
Leitrim |
321,760.91 |
317,401.96 |
347,376.72 |
|
Limerick |
4,651,335.49 |
4,633,698.89 |
3,024,761.19 |
|
Longford |
666,318.23 |
1,422,850.27 |
691,174.79 |
|
Louth |
1,608,037.43 |
1,253,376.84 |
588,768.61 |
|
Mayo |
2,522,165.66 |
3,167,684.54 |
1,989,837.62 |
|
Meath |
2,843,623.12 |
2,160,218.92 |
378,413.71 |
|
Monaghan |
1,027,145.82 |
935,535.86 |
941,412.09 |
|
Offaly |
2,945,288.12 |
831,529.19 |
625,305.71 |
|
Roscommon |
1,157,688.04 |
1,110,670.89 |
704,384.15 |
|
Sligo |
649,863.70 |
1,178,257.15 |
378,917.46 |
|
Tipperary |
3,678,319.55 |
5,159,717.40 |
3,033,713.34 |
|
Waterford |
2,576,090.91 |
2,472,829.56 |
1,485,796.13 |
|
Westmeath |
1,799,818.76 |
1,376,708.44 |
133,965.82 |
|
Wexford |
2,088,411.17 |
3,926,692.61 |
1,144,020.04 |
|
Wicklow |
3,357,024.89 |
2,332,946.28 |
996,950.81 |
|
County to be Classified |
517,188.41 |
175,478.85 |
191,875.92 |
|
Total |
76,163,895.25 |
86,564,513.39 |
46,500,678.60 |
