Firm may be liable for repairs to schools
‘This is a very evolving situation’
THE building company at the centre of the school closure controversy may have to pay some of the repair costs, the Minister for Education said yesterday.
Joe McHugh said that his Department may compel Tyrone-based Western Building Systems to pay for the repairs and inspections.
‘Yes, there’s always a question of accountability when it comes to cost. If necessary, if it means mitigation, that is obviously a road we’re examining as well,’ he told reporters. Initial assessments of all schools being inspected for structural damage are expected to be completed by this evening, Mr McHugh added.
In a statement last night, WBS, which was founded by managing director Martin McCloskey, reiterated its claim that the Department of Education had signed off on the safety of the schools, and said it wanted a meeting with the Minister. ‘We appreciate fully that this is an important matter, particularly for pupils, parents and teachers at the schools involved,’ it stated.
‘We are committed to better understanding why schools previously certified as substantially complete and suitable for occupation, and which also had defects certificates subsequently issued by the Department’s advisors are now being assessed by the department.’
An inspection into 42 schools was launched by the Department last week after part of Ardgillan Community College in Balbriggan, north Dublin, was closed due to the discovery of ‘significant structural issues’. With 21 schools assessed so far, Minister McHugh said progress is being made on the review.
However, he added that this is a ‘very evolving situation’ and that plans are being looked at for schools that may have to partially close due to structural issues.
‘An engineering team and a Department team are working very closely on that, and whatever will be needed will be done thoroughly and the solutions already, as we speak here now, are being put in place for the schools that may have to partially close,’ he said.
The most recent figures from the Department showed that four Dublin schools are set to remain partially closed for repair works after the mid-term break. These are Tyrrelstown Educate Together National School, St Luke’s National School in Tyrrelstown, Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada in Lucan, and Ardgillan Community College.
Scoil Chaitlín Maude in Tallaght and Castlemills Education Centre in Balbriggan will both have ‘protective decking’ put in place during the mid-term break, but will be able to reopen on Monday. Six of the inspected schools did not need any intervention and will reopen as normal after the mid-term break.
The assessment of the nine other schools is ongoing. A spokesperson for the Department said yesterday that ‘the initial feedback appears to indicate that this will be positive in many cases’.