Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Just to be very clear, we are not just looking at structural issues. We have been looking at the assessment of fire safety. We are taking that very seriously. That assessment was completed in August of this year. Works now need to be done. We have asked Western Building Systems, WBS, to look at four particular schools to see whether it will come forward and do the required work. The Deputy is aware that those four cases are undergoing litigation, so I am being careful as to what I say in that regard. We are going to be looking at all the outcomes, all the recommendations, all the weaknesses and all the defects from the fire assessment reports that were completed last August. A total of 55 have been assessed. Some 51 reports are in and there are four outstanding. We will be pursuing WBS for those as well as for the structural issues.

To reiterate once again, I want to find out all weaknesses, deficiencies or shortcomings that are in this design, build, and operate scheme because I want to ensure that we restore confidence and build up the trust that has evidently been lost in respect of this particular type of system.

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