Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to reply to this very pressing issue for Duleek boys and girls national schools, both of which were built in 2015. From the outside, one might mistakenly think that this looks like a state-of-the-art school but, unfortunately, one does not have to look too closely to see the faults left behind by JJ Rhatigan. There are several outstanding issues, but the most pressing is the condition of the roof. JJ Rhatigan contracted two experts to assess the roof and both agreed the problem existed. The National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, instructed JJ Rhatigan to complete the remedial works. These rectification works commenced in July 2019 and were completed in August 2019.

Unfortunately, these rectification works were not successful. The maintenance contractor for the roof pointed out many poor workmanship issues. In July 2018, JJ Rhatigan stated that a consultant engineer and roof specialist would be appointed to monitor the rectification works for a period of 12 months from their completion. This never happened. That individual has not been to the school since these remedial works were carried out in August 2019.

A representative from the NDFA has stated that the inspection by this individual cannot take place due to Covid-19. Inspections could have taken place between August 2019 and mid-March 2020 but, as with so many other issues, Covid-19 has provided a great opportunity for hiding and doing as little as possible. The remedial works have failed and puddles of water on the floors of both schools continue to be a health and safety risk.

I also draw the Minister of State's attention to numerous other issues that remain outstanding since 2015. A partition was never installed correctly. It remains in disrepair despite numerous attempts to engage with the contractors who installed it. This was to be an automated partition.The building management system does not work. As the Minister of State is aware, this system monitors, supervises, controls and reports on smart building technology systems and has been raised with the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, on numerous occasions. The heating system must be flushed by the school's maintenance contractor due to blockages in the system.

With the current Covid-19 ventilation policies, the heat levels must be increased but it is impossible to do that as some classrooms do not receive sufficient heat.

The issue of drinking water has been resolved last week and I thank the Minister of State for that. The water tank leaked in early September 2020 and was inspected by the original contractor. It was temporarily fixed by the in-house schools contractor but no long-term solution has been presented by the original contractor.

Here we are in May 2021, with a state-of-the-art school in Duleek where remedial works have been carried out on the remedial works, all of which have failed. It is completely unacceptable in this day and age that contractors that are paid quite handsomely for works can continue to walk away with poor workmanship and still get paid by NDFA. The last resort is that the schools apply for the emergency works funding to ensure that the schools can operate safely.

Can the Minister of State give a commitment here today that moneys will be made available for all these outstanding issues. I thank the Minister of State.