Now hospitals built by Co Tyrone firm in Republic face checks

HOSPITALS in the Republic built by a Co Tyrone firm will undergo examination to ensure they are structurally sound, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.

Work by Coalisland company Western Building Systems (WBS) is under scrutiny after two schools it built in Dublin were closed this week over safety concerns. All 42 school projects involving the firm since 2008 are now being reviewed.

The company said all its work had complied with regulations and been subject to inspections. It called for an urgent meeting with the Minister for Education in the Republic Joe McHugh to discuss concerns over the projects.

The Department of Education in Northern Ireland has also said it is compiling a list of projects involving the firm.

WBS carried out a number of projects for local health trusts, including a renal unit at Altnagelvin Hospital and offices at Lagan Valley Hospital.

The South Eastern Trust has already confirmed that the modular accommodation installed by WBS in Lisburn is being demolished to make way for a new primary care centre.

Meanwhile, Tanaiste Simon Coveney was accused of being disingenuous and heckled repeatedly during leaders’ questions in Dail Eireann yesterday.

Solidarity TD Paul Murphy asked why the issues, which he says were known to the department before, were kept under wraps.

He said: “Over 1,000 pupils have no school to go to, parents are scrambling for childcare, 42 schools to be inspected, how many more pupils are in a school with 80% chance of a wall falling down?

“This is a consequence of a race to the bottom in the construction industry, this is the model that brought on Grenfell and has to end.”

Mr Coveney said he was less interested in engaging in a “slanging match” and more in fixing the problem.

“What we’re focused on now is trying to ensure we can reassure staff and children, as well as putting contingency plans in place,” he said.

“All schools involved will be inspected in the coming days, some of them won’t need to move, some may have dangers we need to respond to, I would ask people to work with us rather than organise protests.

“Let’s have some calm here.”