2026-02-11

This matter relates to Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin on Glasanaon Road in Finglas, Dublin 11. A number of parents contacted me to outline some very serious concerns regarding the condition of the school building. Tá an-fhearg agus an-fhrustrachas ar na tuismitheoirí. The building is simply not in an acceptable state. The parents highlighted the fact that the teachers in the school do an excellent job but that the school is located in an extremely old and visibly deteriorating building that is no longer fit for purpose. It was originally built as a boys' school, and there has been a long-standing promise from the Department of education that a new building would be provided. Unfortunately, no meaningful progress has been made, leaving the children and the staff to continue in unacceptable conditions. We are all well aware of the weather we have seen in the past month and the floods that are happening across the country. Unfortunately, this weather is having a particular impact on the school in question. Due to the recent spell of bad weather, the school hall is leaking badly. As a result, children have been unable to use the yard at break times and they are missing PE classes and all indoor school sports activities. These children are stuck behind their desks from the moment they go into school in the morning until they leave in the afternoon. As we know, what we promote all the time is as much physical activity as possible for children during the school day and during the day in general. It is so important for their physical and mental health. Many children need various breaks and space to be able to move around. This is not a minor inconvenience; it represents a failure to meet basic standards. As stated, the teachers and staff in Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin do an amazing job, but they are being asked to do it in extremely challenging conditions. Children should be provided with a safe and healthy environment to learn in. The Department has a clear obligation to ensure that if a building is not safe that emergency measures are taken. The parents and staff are looking for a clear and realistic timeline for the long-promised new school building. They are also seeking to ensure that immediate remedial works are carried out in order that the children can safely return to normal play and PE without further delay. Will the Minister of State ensure that funding is prioritised for Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin? The leak has to be fixed immediately, and the vital and overdue works needed to improve the school and the facilities there must be undertaken. I look forward to hearing the response of the Minister of State.

I wish the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach a happy St. Gobnait's day. This is a hugely important day in his home territory, and it is important to recognise that. I thank Deputy Hearne for raising the matter of the Gaelscoil in Finglas. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Naughton. The purpose of the Department's emergency works scheme is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies or to facilitate inclusion and access for pupils with additional needs. It does so by ensuring the availability of funding for urgent works for those schools that are in need of it 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 which, if not corrected, would prevent a school or a part thereof from opening. The scheme operates on the basis of a minimal scope of works required to address an emergency situation. It is intended to remedy emergency situations and usually provides interim measures until permanent solutions can be delivered under the summer works scheme, which deals with upgrade works to schools. In the case of outdoor play areas, this usually includes repairs to existing play areas. Each application is assessed on its merits. In the case of the school to which Deputy Hearne refers, there is no emergency works application outstanding with the Department. The emergency works scheme is open to primary and post-primary schools that have permanent recognition and that are in non-rented accommodation. In order to make applications, schools must complete the online emergency works application form that is available on the Department's system. As Deputy Hearne will be aware, details in respect of the climate action summer works scheme for 2026 and onwards were also announced in 2025. The purpose of this scheme is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works which, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disruption. The scheme will operate on a multi-annual basis. Deputy Hearne made a point about children participating in the entire curriculum. That is very important. I note the points he made regarding the old building and the fact that the Gaelscoil is operating in it. I have no doubt about the excellent work being done there by the school community. We thank them for the work they do. Deputy Hearne also mentioned that the roof of the PE hall is leaking. We have experienced, particularly since October, a huge amount of rainfall. It was one of the wettest winters in quite some time. I do not have the specifics regarding the roof and the damage that has been done to it but I urge the school to engage with the Department in relation to emergency works because it is important that all of the school building is accessible. The school is there to provide education across academia along with PE and so forth. It is important that an application is made in that regard. I note the points the Deputy has made on the ongoing issue of a new school building. I will take those points back but, in the first instance, if there are works that can be done immediately, I encourage the Deputy and the school authorities to engage with the Department to see if progress can be made.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I will again emphasise that, as the Minister of State has outlined, we have had a serious weather situation. I am sure it is not the only school in the country facing situations like this. Indeed, I know it is not. In my constituency and across the country, there are issues in relation to school buildings being kept up to standard. We have an issue in that the capitation grant given to schools is not sufficient to cover the basic cost of running a school. That is why parents are being asked all of the time to cover these costs through what is called a voluntary contribution. Of course, in many cases, it does not feel very voluntary. There is a need to increase investment in schools and in education to ensure we do not see situations such as the situation in Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin in Finglas. I will engage with the school. I look forward to the Department responding very positively to applications for emergency funding. I again ask for prioritisation because we really should not be in this position. A new school building should be in place. I ask the Department to look at this again and to come back to me on the development of that new school building. I will again highlight what the parents have said. One said that, as a parent, it is completely infuriating to watch their children's physical health, emotional well-being and educational experience compromised while their tax contributions appear to be squandered on projects such as expensive bike sheds and walls rather than spent addressing issues at a school that is literally crumbling around the children inside it. That is the parents' experience and feeling. We need to acknowledge that and do much better.

I thank the Deputy for the points he has made. Record investment is going into the Department of education's capital programme for developments right across the country. Over the past number of years, record investment has been made in the building stock across the system. We recently announced over €7.5 billion in school investment through the national development plan. Thousands of schools across the country have seen investment in upgrading their facilities. I will make the point that we are acutely aware that investment in education, whether on the capital side or current, pays dividends as regards the long-term well-being of society. The more we invest in education, the better the outcomes for children into adulthood. We have seen that in Irish society over 100 years. I ask that the Gaelscoil engage with the Department in relation to the immediate issues to see if there is a pathway forward to deal with them through the Department's emergency works programme. I pay tribute to all of those working on the capital programme within the Department of education to make sure we are targeting the schools that really need investment. A lot of that has been laid out over the past while and a lot more will be done. At the end of the day, in relation to the school the Deputy raised this morning and the issues regarding a leaking roof, it is important the school engage with the Department and make an application. That will be adjudicated on in accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme. We will also come back to the Deputy on the other issue of the permanent school building for that Gaelscoil in Finglas. I again thank him for the opportunity to address this issue this morning. I will relay his comments to the Department and the Minister, Deputy Naughton.