The Department of Education has spent over €77 million on repairs to school roofs over the past four years.
The figure is contained in a reply to a parliamentary question which asked for information on the number of primary and secondary schools reporting leaks in their roofs.
While the department does not gather data specifically on roof leaks, in a written answer to Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne, it said it operates two main schemes which can deal with roofs in schools - the Emergency Works Scheme and the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme.
It said that since 2021, it has spent over €77m on roof works under the two schemes.
The Emergency Works Scheme provides funding for unforeseen emergencies, such as urgent works required 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", it said.
The reply goes on to state that such funding "is intended to remedy an emergency situation and usually provides only an interim measure until a permanent solution can be delivered".
A number of schools suffered severe damage to their roofs during storms in recent years.
They include Virginia College in Co Cavan, which suffered extensive damage to its roof during Storm Éowyn when a tree fell on it.
School authorities also point to severe inflation in building costs in recent years.
Gorey Community School is among a number of schools that received funding in recent years to patch up a leaking roof.
The school, which is the largest in the country, has been campaigning for a new school roof and last year received in the region of €60,000 to fund interim repairs.
"We had to go for emergency funding last year to see us through," Principal Michael Finn said.
"We still have a number of buckets up in the attic which we have to empty regularly," he said.
Mr Finn said during the recent heavy rains, "we came in on the Monday to puddles in classrooms".
The school has recently secured funding, which will see the entire roof replaced this coming summer.
