Five Meath schools to be structurally assessed over mid-term break

Five Meath schools face an anxious wait over the coming week pending structural assessments on their buildings to find out if the major structural issues which forced the closure of three Dublin schools affect their buildings.

Three schools in Ashbourne - Colaiste de Lacy, Gaelscoil na Mi and Ashbourne Educate Together- as well as Gaelscoil Tulach na nÓg in Dunboyne and St Paul's NS Ratoath are on the list of 42 schools built by Western Building Systems to be assessed by teams appointed by the Department of Education. It is understood that a date for the local assessments has not yet been given but the Department of Education says it aims to have examinations of all schools completed by the end of the mid-term break.

Four Dublin schools have so far been assessed resulting in three of them being closed- Ardgillian Community College in Balbriggan, Tyrellstown Educate Together NS and St Luke's National School, Tyrellstown, which were all built pre-2014 when more stringent regulations came into effect. The fourth- Gaelscoil Teach Giúise in Firhouse- opened earlier this year and while final analysis has yet to be completed nothing has arisen to warrant school closure.

Four of the Meath schools were built in 2016 after the regulations changed, while St Paul's NS Ratoath was built in 2011. All five Meath schools are open as usual today. 

A dedicated communications team has been established within the Department of Education which includes focal contact points for principals.  A Department spokesperson said all principals and patrons have been contacted by phone and email and the Department will continue to keep them fully updated on developments.  Schools will be informed as soon as a time and date has been confirmed for their assessment.

"Schools, or parts of schools, will be vacated only where it is considered necessary to do so. In the event that structural issues are identified in other schools, it may also be possible to manage those issues through engineering solutions, without the need to close the building. However, where required, the Department will work with the schools to put contingency accommodation arrangements in place.  An interim accommodation team has been established in the Department to look at solutions and consultation has already taken place with local authorities and Education and Training Boards (ETBs)," the spokepserson said.

Meanwhile, Department officials will meet officially with Western Building Systems today for the first time since these structural issues came to light. 

Education Minister Joe McHugh has reiterated that "the overriding priority of the Department in taking all of the actions outlined is the health and safely of the school pupils and staff".    

 “I have asked my officials in conjunction with the project managers to advance the structural assessments as quickly as possible, including over the coming weekend. I want to try and get as many of the assessments as possible completed by the end of next week”.

Minister McHugh has also appealed to local communities to get in touch with their local principals with any suggestions of interim solutions which can also be passed on to the Department.