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Update on WBS Building Issues

The Department of Education and Skills wishes to provide an update on the programme of structural assessments which have been conducted to date on schools constructed by Western Building Systems. 

This follows the detailed update provided yesterday in relation to arrangements being put in place for Tyrrelstown ETNS, St Luke’s National School and Ardgillan Community College.

Opening up works at ten further schools took place yesterday, 26 October.  Engineers on site gathered information which was referred back to their headquarters for further assessment.  In the case of four of the ten schools, the assessment remains ongoing at this time.

The outcome of the assessments enable five of the ten schools to reopen fully after the mid-term break.  These schools are as follows:

  •  Luttrellstown Community College
  •  Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua, Dublin 18
  •  Broombridge Educate Together National School
  •  Scoil Choilm, Porterstown
  •  Scoil Chaitlín Maude, Tallaght

In the case of one of the above schools, Scoil Chaitlín Maude, structural issues were identified which present a risk to the external leaf only and will require intervention in the form of a fence around the school building and some protective decking. This will be put in place during the course of the mid-term break.

The structural assessment of Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada in Lucan identified structural issues which require both external and internal intervention.  Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada is a 16 classroom primary school with a current enrolment of 454 pupils.

An appropriate engineering solution, to be implemented during the mid-term break, will allow the ground floor of this building to reopen after the break. 

The interim accommodation team in the Department of Education and Skills is working with the school principal and patron to put in place an off-site interim accommodation solution for the remaining classes with a view to ensuring that all classes can be accommodated when the school reopens on 5 November. 

Opening up works and further assessments are continuing today.  A further update will be provided tomorrow, 28 October.