School Facilities Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-16 ============================================================ Michael Moynihan (FF), Cork North-West I thank Senator Andrews for raising the issues in relation to the schools in Westland Row and Ringsend. In the overall sense, the Department has a number of funding streams in emergency funding and summer works funding to deal with ongoing maintenance issues. The Senator outlined the issues in relation to downpipes and toilets. I understand the challenges when you are working in a building that is old and needs constant upgrading. That can dampen the spirit not alone of the teams teaching and working there, the SNAs and all the other teams, but also of the students. There was engagement with CBS Westland Row over the past while and there is continuing engagement on it. The summer works scheme was developed a number of years ago to try to ensure there would be a funding stream for remedial work to schools. The emergency works fund is available throughout the school year. Schools can apply for emergency works needed to ensure the smooth running of the school. I pay tribute to the school communities in the schools in Ringsend and Westland Row. The Senator mentioned his conversation with the principal. I am happy to take that further if the Senator provides me with further details. There is engagement. There are always issues with amalgamations to ensure they take place and there are practical issues the Department has to streamline. The Senator also mentioned letters from July and February, some seven months apart. I will ensure that is speeded up. If the Senator wants to give me further details on the outstanding issues there, I will take them up, and in Westland Row as well. There is a huge budget for capital investment in schools. We are aware of the challenges to make sure school communities are working properly particularly in disadvantaged areas. The Senator raised the issue regarding DEIS plus. I do not have the brief this morning on that but I am happy to engage further with him. I know all of the school communities he raised with me are working in challenging circumstances, delivering an education to vulnerable people and a diverse group. One has to compliment that. As I have done over the past year, when you go into schools particularly in the city here, you see the challenges they face and how the school community, leadership, teachers, SNAs and entire school team are working. Specifically in relation to the schools the Senator raised, I am willing to work with him on the outstanding issues. We have seen over many decades that when school amalgamations are done very well with a great foundation, it leads to better outcomes for the children and the entire community. Amalgamations are not something the State or the Department have taken lightly over many years. When founded on very good principles and co-operation, it can work well. I will take that up. We will try to get information back to the Senator on DEIS as well. On downpipes, simple problems with roofing or otherwise can lead to huge challenges across the system. The Senator mentioned concerning Ringsend that officials used the word "grim". It is really worrying to me when you see that. I will take up the two school communities and work to make sure we meet any challenges we can meet in the Department. The Department does not have an infinite amount of money but we have money to make sure we are working to have school communities up and running. If he has any further information he wishes to give me, I will be only too happy to go back to the Department and get a response. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-16/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:49+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-04-16