We WILL fix it Taoiseach’s pledge to probe structural risks at 40 facilities as kids miss out on lessons over safety concerns
THE Government is “working night and day” to establish the extent of structural risks in school buildings, the Taoiseach said yesterday.
As he toured Tyrrelstown Educate Together School in Dublin, Leo Varadkar said all the facts were still not known.
Tyrrelstown and nearby St Luke’s National School have been forced to temporarily close due to safety concerns.
The Department of Education has ordered risk assessments at more than 40 facilities.
The review was prompted amid concerns for the integrity of facilities built between 2009 and 2013 by Co Tyrone-based construction firm Western Building Systems.
Mr Varadkar said: “This is a big problem. We don’t know the scale of it yet, but we will fix it. We are going to make sure everything is put right.
“We don’t have all the answers yet but what we are going to do over the next couple of days is find out what the scale of the problem is, put in place interim solutions that hopefully will allow the schools to continue to operate and then
Mr Varadkar and Education Minister Joe Mchugh meet teachers at St Luke’s
carry out whatever repairs that need to be carried out.
“I know this is a time of enormous concern and worry for parents and I know this is really discommoding and disruptive for children, particular for those with special needs.
“But we are working night and day now to make sure we find out the scale of the problem and put in place solutions that will ideally allow the schools to continue on campus.”
He added initial assessments indicated there were no concerns about State hospital and healthcare facilities
built by the company. The issue has arisen ahead of the mid-term break, with officials hopeful of having a clearer picture before the new term.
As he toured the site with Education Minister Joe
Mchugh, the Taoiseach said all the resources of the department’s buildings section were being deployed.
He added the safety of pupils and staff was the Government’s “foremost concern”.
Mr Varadkar said: “We are going to work hard to find an interim solution.”
More than 1,200 students attend Tyrrelstown and St Luke’s.
Last week, a building at Ardgillan Community College in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, was closed amid safety concerns, forcing the college to ask transition year students to stay at home.
Western Building Systems insisted officials declared each of the closed schools to be “fully compliant” after construction was completed.
The company said it has sought an urgent meeting with Mr Mchugh.
A spokesman added: “In the case of the three schools closed, the Department of Education and Skills’ contracts for these projects stipulated that they be completed within 20 to 26 weeks.
“We met these timelines as per our contractual obligations.
“The department deemed each project to be compliant, issuing the supporting certificates of completion.”
YESTERDAY DUBLIN
Sports gear is removed
I know this is a time of enormous worry for parents and children
LEO VARADKAR