The Department of Education and Skills wishes to provide an update on the programme of structural assessments at schools constructed by Western Building Systems (WBS) and the Department’s response to issues arising.
The Department confirms that initial on-site structural assessments in relation to all 42 schools constructed by Western Building Systems were completed yesterday.
The analysis of the data gathered has continued during the course of today, in consultations between the project managers, structural engineers and Department officials. In some cases, further on-site inspections were also required today.
The below table confirms the current position in relation to the 42 schools which have been subject to structural assessment.
The table indicates the outcome of the assessments for a total of 29 schools and it is intended to provide clarity to the remaining schools tomorrow.
The summary position, on the basis of all assessments completed to date, is:
- 11 schools cleared to open in full without further intervention
- 14 schools enabled to open in full following external intervention in the form of a fence around the building and protective decking
- 3 schools in which the ground floor will be enabled to open following the implementation of internal engineering solutions and external interventions
- 13 schools subject to ongoing structural assessment and analysis (outcome to be confirmed tomorrow)
- Phase 1 of Ardgillan Community College closed
Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh said:
The outcomes of further structural assessments which we have received today are important in providing clarity to school authorities, students and parents.
The advice I have received is that no other building has presented the same severity of structural issues as those identified in Phase 1 of Ardgillan Community College, which was built in 2009.
Contractors have commenced work on site at five schools previously confirmed as requiring internal and/or external interventions. Teams are now mobilising to implement the necessary external interventions at other schools as outlined in the table beneath. The target is to have this work completed in the coming days.
A later phase of this process will require further investigations and long-term remediation measures, where required.
The Department’s interim accommodation team has been working in close cooperation with the principals of Tyrrelstown ETNS, St Luke’s National School and Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada, Lucan over recent days in order to confirm interim accommodation solutions for the classes which will temporarily be displaced from those schools. Offsite interim accommodation arrangements have now been confirmed in principle and communications will issue from the schools shortly.
A further update will issue tomorrow, 1 November.
Summary of Structural Assessments to Date 31/10/2018
Schools cleared to open in full, without any internal or external intervention
Dublin Luttrellstown Community College 76130P
Dublin Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua, Dublin 18 20425U
Dublin Broombridge Educate Together National School 20453C
Dublin Scoil Choilm Community National School, Porterstown 20241K
Dublin Gaelscoil na Giúise, Firhouse 20412L
Meath Gaelscoil Thulach na nÓg, Dunboyne 20082Q
Laois Maryborough National School, Portlaoise 14838N
Dublin Scoil Aoife Community National School, Citywest 20422O
Donegal Letterkenny Educate Together National School 20235P
Dublin Firhouse Educate Together National School 20411J
Wexford St. Joseph's Primary School, Gorey 18280I
Schools enabled to open in full, following external intervention in the form of a fence around the building and protective decking
County School Name Roll No
Kildare Scoil Phádraig Naofa, Athy 16705E
Kildare Athy Model School (GP Hall Extension only) 06209J
Kildare Gaelscoil Átha Í (GP Hall Extension only) 20192A
Dublin Lucan East Educate Together National School 20303G
Laois Convent National School, Portarlington 15556I
Cork Scoil Phádraig Naofa, Rochestown 20335T
Laois Gaelscoil Phortlaoise 20081O
Laois Portlaoise Educate Together National School 20347D
Meath Coláiste De Lacy, Ashbourne 76196W
Meath Gaelscoil na Mí, Ashbourne 20382F
Meath Ashbourne Educate Together National School 20396Q
Schools in which the ground floor will be enabled to open following the implementation of internal engineering solutions and external interventions
County School Name Roll No
Dublin Tyrrelstown Educate Together National School 20201V
Dublin St Luke’s National School, Tyrellstown 16675V
Dublin Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada, Lucan 20223I
Schools subject to ongoing structural assessment and analysis
County School Name Roll No
Dublin Lucan Community National School, Balgaddy Rd 20426W
Dublin Griffeen Valley Educate Together National school 20166W
Wiclow Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath 20301C
Wicklow Rush and Lusk Educate Together National School 20176C
Dublin St. Francis of Assisi Primary School, Belmayne 20304I
Dublin Belmayne Educate Together National School 20308Q
Cork Gaelscoil Mhichíl Uí Choileáin, Clonakilty 20006A
Cork Cara Junior (Special) School 20354A
Galway Galway Educate Together National School 20000L
Cork Carrigaline Educate Together National School 20310D
Cork St. Colman's Boys National School, Macroom 15597W
Kildare Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha 20428D
Westmeath Mullingar Educate Together National School 20188J
School building closed
Dublin Ardgillan Community College (Phase 1 only) 76129H