Minister: Any building firm can win contracts as long as they’ve no convictions
»»Government faces questions as more schools facing closure »»Inspection teams sent to facilities over safety fears
GOVERNMENT contracts to construct schools can be given to any firm who win tenders as long as they have no criminal convictions.
The blunt admission came from new Education Minister Joe Mchugh as he faced questions from reporters over the shoddy schools scandal.
Fire and structural safety concerns have led the minister to act and to send in inspection teams to the schools built by Western Building Systems over the past decade.
More than 1,200 pupils in Dublin had their mid-term break start on Tuesday after two schools were forced to close due to structural problems.
Tyrrelstown Educate Together and nearby St Luke’s National School in Mulhuddart were both shut with immediate effect after problems were allegedly discovered during structural concerns.
There are now 40 facilities that could be closed as inspections of buildings put up by the Co Tyrone firm continue over the coming week.
Serious defects in a school built by WBS in Rush/lusk, North Dublin, emerged as far back as 2014, but millions more has been paid out to the firm since then as they have legally won tenders.
The Irish Mirror asked Mr Mchugh how builders could continue to win contracts if schools they worked on have been under the spotlight.
He said if they are without a criminal conviction, they are free to tender for all ongoing contracts.
Mr Mchugh, who has warned parents to brace for more closures. added: “They [WBS] continued to tender and obviously when you don’t have a criminal conviction anybody can tender for a tender process. There is a very important analysis that needs to be done, but for the moment my focus is on pupil safety, ensuring we get temporary accommodation, ensuring that the team we have set up in the Department works closely with the community.”
Mr Mchugh said his first priority is the safety of children in the crisis.
He added: “The message to parents is very, very simple. I’m taking the issue of the care and welfare of their children very, very seriously.”
Mr Mchugh is looking to meet the management of WBS and he has sent a letter to them. Labour education spokesman and former teacher Aodhan O Riordain said that the school
Parent Giula Romoli at Tyrrelstown Educate Together yesterday inspections must be completed as quickly as possible to let parents know which schools are safe.
He added: “The revelations about [inspections of] 40 schools built by Western Building Systems are deeply concerning.”
The firm released a statement yesterday evening saying they are anxious to “get to the bottom” of the issues affecting the schools.
It said: “Until now, our integrity has never been questioned. Each of our Department of Education and Skills’ projects, both before and since the amendments to building regulations in 2014, were subjected to inspections during construction.
“Every time, each was certified as meeting compliance standards.
“We are interested in getting to the bottom of this and that starts with establishing the facts.
“We are moving to intensify our engagement with the Department and other relevant bodies to better understand the issues which have now arisen and to work to resolve them.”