Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
640. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide replacement prefabs for the prefabs damaged by recent storms at a school (details supplied) given her decision that the school was not approved by her Department to proceed to construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10329/26]
View answerI can confirm that my department currently has no application from the school/patron in question for the replacement of prefabs.
The major project for this school is devolved to its patron for delivery. The project brief is to provide an extension to the existing school building, as well as the appropriate refurbishment of those existing buildings to be retained for ongoing educational use.
I can advise the Deputy that the project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural process, which allows for detailed design/planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents. ?While at this early stage, it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project, the patron will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
The purpose of the Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) Scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and special education (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or by available accommodation at other schools in the area.
It is open to the school authority to make an application for additional accommodation through the 'Additional Schools Accommodation scheme (ASA)' which is available at www.education.ie.
The school can also apply for funding under my Departments Emergency Works Scheme. 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.
