Meath school structural inspection update

Five Meath schools named among 40 built by Western Building Systems since 2008 that underwent structural assessment inspections been cleared to open next week subject to certain conditions.

The local schools affected are St Paul’s National School, Ratoath; Gaelscoil Tulach na Og, Dunboyne; Gaelscoil na Mí, Ashbourne
Asbourne Educate Together National School and Coláiste De Lacy, Ashbourne.

The Department of Education confirmed 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. 

Schools enabled to open in full, following external intervention in the form of a fence around the building and protective decking:

Coláiste De Lacy, Ashbourne, Gaelscoil na Mí, Ashbourne, Ashbourne Educate Together National School, St Paul's National School, Ratoath

Schools cleared to open in full, without any internal or external intervention:

Gaelscoil Thulach na nÓg, Dunboyne

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 T.D. 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.