Company Behind Structural Issues At Midlands Schools Criticising Minister

Five midlands schools are among those affected.

The construction firm behind 42 schools found to have structural defects - is criticising the Education Minister.

Western Building Systems says a review announced by Minister Joe McHugh is too restrictive. 

Five of the schools which were identified were in the midlands region:

Mullingar Educate Together National School, 

Portarlington Convent National School,

Gaelscoil Portlaoise, 

Portlaoise Educate Together National School,

Maryborough National School in Portlaoise.

The Government is taking legal action against Western Building Systems after inspections of completed schools around the country found structural and fire safety problems. 

The Education Minister has announced that a promised independent review - which will look at how schools are designed and built in other countries - will be carried out by Technological University Dublin. 

Western Building Systems has called the review restrictive - as it does not examine the Department's own practices and procedures. 

It's criticised Minister Joe McHugh for choosing to proceed with a review that it says is a "desktop exercise which which should be standard practice for something as important as the school building programme."

It's called for a full independent review if shortcomings in the procurement and regulation of public infrastructure projects are to be addressed. 

More from Midlands News

Download Our App