The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. has today (Thursday 6 June) confirmed that a remediation programme for 22 schools constructed by WBS will commence during the summer. A series of information sessions for school authorities and management began in the Department of Education and Skills this week. The briefings will run over the coming days and will give an outline of the schedule of works and the nature of the remediation.

Precautionary measures were put in place in 22 schools last October and November to ensure their continued safe occupancy after structural issues were identified. Detailed investigations subsequently took place in the schools, outside of school opening times to minimise disruption. They were completed recently, allowing engineering experts to design permanent remediation works for affected schools. Minister McHugh said:

“From day one, safety has been our number one priority. We are now able to outline when affected schools will have a contractor on site and we are also giving schools an explanation of what the work will entail. I am glad that we are now able to move into this phase of ensuring a permanent fix for these buildings.”

Briefings by the Department’s building unit have begun, with the first information session given to school patrons earlier this week and further sessions continuing with individual schools. Minister McHugh said:

“We have been clear from the start about the importance of keeping schools up to date in response to concerns about structural issues and providing them with as much clear information from the outset. The briefings are a chance for the Department to engage with school authorities, to share details of the remediation programme and the timetabling for the works which aims to make the most of the holidays.”

Minister McHugh also confirmed that planned detailed structural assessments of 17 schools, also built by WBS, which did not require initial precautionary measures, will take place this summer in parallel with the permanent remediation works at the other 22 schools.

A programme of initial structural assessments was carried out in October and November 2018 at 42 schools constructed by Western Building Systems. The initial assessments resulted in precautionary measures being put in place at 22 schools as an interim response. A specific remediation plan is being put in place for Ardgillan Community College, part of which remains closed. Two schools in which structural issues were identified were already part of a plan to move into new school buildings and those schools have completed that move. The Minister will provide further details of the remediation programme when all of the 23 schools on the programme, including Ardgillan Community College, and their patrons have been briefed.

19 schools cleared to open in full without any internal or external intervention

• Luttrellstown Community College - 76130P
  
• Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua, Dublin 18 - 20425U
  
• Broombridge  Educate Together National School - 20453C
  
• Scoil Choilm Community National School, Porterstown - 20241K
  
• Gaelscoil na Giúise, Firhouse - 20412L
  
• Gaelscoil Thulach na nÓg, Dunboyne - 20082Q
  
• Maryborough National School, Portlaoise - 14838N
  
• Scoil Aoife Community National School, Citywest - 20422O
  
• Letterkenny Educate Together National School - 20235P
  
• Firhouse Educate Together National School - 20411J
  
• St. Joseph's Primary School, Gorey - 18280I
  
• Lucan Community National School, Balgaddy Rd - 20426W
  
• Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath - 20301C
  
• Rush and Lusk Educate Together National School - 20176C
  
• St. Francis of Assisi Primary School, Belmayne - 20304I
  
• Belmayne Educate Together National School - 20308Q
  
• Galway Educate Together National School - 20000L
  
• Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha - 20428D
  
• Mullingar Educate Together National School - 20188J
  

19 schools enabled to open in full following external precautionary measures

• Scoil Chaitlín Maude, Tallaght - 19872P
  
• Castlemills Education Centre, Balbriggan - n/a
  
• St Paul's National School, Ratoath - 20215J
  
• Scoil Phádraig Naofa, Athy - 16705E
  
• Athy Model School (GP Hall Extension only) - 06209J
  
• Gaelscoil Átha Í (GP Hall Extension only) - 20192A
  
• Lucan East Educate Together National School - 20303G
  
• Convent National School, Portarlington - 15556I
  
• Scoil Phádraig Naofa, Rochestown - 20335T
  
• Gaelscoil Phortlaoise - 20081O
  
• Portlaoise Educate Together National School - 20347D
  
• Coláiste De Lacy, Ashbourne - 76196W
  
• Gaelscoil na Mí, Ashbourne - 20382F
  
• Ashbourne Educate Together National School - 20396Q
  
• Griffeen Valley Educate Together National school (2003 Phase only) - 20166W
  
• Gaelscoil Mhichíl Uí Choileáin, Clonakilty - 20006A
  
• Cara Junior (Special) School - required at one part of building only - 20354A
  
• Carrigaline Educate Together National School - 20310D
  
• St Colman's Boys National School, Macroom - 15597W
  

3 schools which were enabled to open following the implementation of internal and external precautionary measures

• Tyrrelstown Educate Together National School - 20201V
  
• St Luke’s National School, Tyrrelstown - 16675V
  
• Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada, Lucan - 20223I
  

1 school building part closed

• Ardgillan Community College (Phase 1 only) - 76129H

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