Structural Problems Identified In Midlands Schools

Thursday, 15 August 2019 10:48

Education Minister Joe McHugh will be in Tullamore this morning to provide an update.

Structural problems have been identified at school buildings in the midlands.

Two schools in Laois and Westmeath will need temporary works in the coming weeks to ensure they are safe to reopen this month.

Education Minister Joe McHugh will be in Tullamore this morning to provide an update.

Mullingar Educate Together National School and Maryborough National School, Portlaoise are among the 17 that need works.

The buildings were constructed by Western Building Systems, the same company that built 22 other schools where defects were discovered last year.

The 17 schools were cleared for use last October and November, after limited assessments found no requirement for any precautionary measures to be put in place.

Engineers have now carried out detailed assessments and have advised that permanent remediation work is required in each of the schools.

Temporary measures such as scaffolding and safety fencing are being put in place in parts of some of the schools, to ensure they are safe for pupils and staff to return to at the end of the month.

The necessary works will be carried over the summer break both next year and in 2021.