Education Schemes
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-12
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Charlie McConalogue (FF), Donegal

I will certainly relay the points the Deputy made back to the Minister. The response I have been given outlines the difference between the emergency works scheme in terms of the criteria to qualify for it and for the summer works scheme. The Department is making the case that the downpipe issue is a matter that would qualify for the summer work scheme as opposed to the emergency works scheme, even though, as should always be the case, it would appear that the school is achieving very good value here in relation to the electrical works contract, the cost of which is coming in under the amount allocated via the emergency works scheme.
If the two issues in terms of the downpipe and its impact on the capacity to effectively carry out the work in relation to the electrics are related, they should certainly be presented alongside each other. The way forward here is for the school to examine the opportunity of an appeal, no doubt working with the Deputy to see how that could best be put forward. It can also make the case to the Department concerning how that emergency works money should be considered as contributing to the downpipe work as well to see if that can somehow be made to meet the criteria to be approved.
I thank the Deputy again for raising the matter. I will faithfully report back to the Minister on the debate and on the Deputy's requests and representations.

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Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:02+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-12