Cork schools turned down for emergency works grants

More than 40 Cork schools had their applications for emergency works grants rejected last year, despite claims of “holes in floors, crumbling roofs, and boilers on the blink” in some buildings.

The Department of Education deems emergency works as “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”.

There were 187 applications received by the department from Cork schools last year, of which 43 were rejected.

Some 12 applications have requested a drawdown of funds, while the remaining 132 are in varying stages of assessment, with continued engagement with the schools where required.

A spokesperson for the department said: “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.

“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.”

Plasters 

The information was provided to Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould in response to a parliamentary question.

He claimed: “I have visited schools across Cork North Central this year. I’ve seen holes in floors, crumbling roofs, and boilers on the blink.

“I’ve seen school staff doing their best to keep the show on the road, but putting plasters on gaping wounds in schools.”

He said he has heard from “many” principals of schools refused emergency works grants due to “technicalities, or they never hear back from the department”.

He called for additional funding for schools to carry out proactive and preventative maintenance to avoid emergencies.