John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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232. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when fire safety concerns were identified at a school (details supplied); the actions taken; when they were taken to deal with these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39286/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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On 1 September my Department published fire safety reports for five school buildings constructed in 2008, including the school in question, where issues had been identified in respect of the compliance with their fire safety certificates.

These Fire safety reports were completed in July 2016. The findings of the reports indicated issues of insufficient compliance with some requirements of the fire safety certificates in relation to fire retardation in those buildings. The reports found that while the designs which underpinned the Fire Safety Certificates required that the buildings would provide 60 minutes of retardation to facilitate evacuation, the actual quality of construction indicated a level of retardation less than this.

It is important to note that this is not a finding that the buildings are dangerous, it is a finding that the buildings do not comply with the detailed requirements of the Fire Safety Certificates.

It is also important to note that in the case of each of the schools, the Department has engaged extensively with the Fire Officers of the relevant Local Authorities. The Fire Officers have broadly welcomed the Department’s proactive approach to dealing with the issues highlighted and have indicated their acceptance of the course of action being followed by the Department, including the identified remediation works and the fact that the schools continue to be occupied on a day-to-day basis.

The background to the Fire Safety Reports has been outlined in the Press Statement on 1 September with the publication of the report. In October 2015, following the issues that arose in respect of Rush/Lusk ETNS, the Department made arrangements for the procurement of fire safety inspections of the five schools constructed in 2008.

A Consultant was appointed to carry out the fire inspection audits of the schools. The initial fire safety investigations were carried out in January 2016. Draft Fire Reports were prepared in March 2016. In order to complete the reports it was necessary for the Fire Consultant to gather further information on the buildings including compliance reports, drawings etc. and to conduct further investigations and site visits. The Final Reports were received in July 2016.

The Department met with WBS and their Architectural Consultant in June 2016. It was agreed at the meeting that WBS would liaise with the Departments Consultant’s and would carry out the required works in the relevant schools.

In August 2016 WBS advised that the priority works (i.e. immediate essential improvement works) had been carried out at the schools. Despite a number of requests by the Department, photographic reports and commentary on the works were sought following the works in August but information was not received until late September and early October 2016. The Department’s Consultant issued a commentary on the information to WBS on 25th November 2016 expressing concerns.

In January 2017 the Department’s Project Managers advised WBS that following their reports in relation to the remedial works at the schools, commentary received from the Fire Consultant had suggested that the reports provided did not address the original Fire Consultant reports in their entirety. They were requested to provide reference photographs for each item deemed to be attended to and for any items not yet completed to include a reason for not addressing and a proposed date for attending to same.

Further site visits to the schools were carried out by the Fire Consultant in March/April 2017. This was a visual inspection of the previously advised completed items by the Fire Consultant. The Draft Report which was received from the Fire Consultant in May 2017 following this visit concluded that very little upgrade works which were previously advised had actually been carried out. Where works were carried out they were not to a satisfactory standard and there were issues identified within the Fire Consultant’s report of July 2016 which had not been addressed.

While it had been the Department’s understanding that WBS had carried out the works in summer 2016 which had been highlighted in the Fire Consultant reports as being most urgent and important, it became apparent following review by the Fire Consultant that this was not in fact the case.

On 5 May 2017 the Department met with WBS to discuss the findings of the reports of May 2017. WBS committed to visiting the schools in week commencing 8th May to review. Since that date the progress in respect of the school in question is as follows.

A meeting was also held with the Fire Officer on 23rd June 2017 to discuss this school. A further meeting was held with the Fire Officer for Monday 4th September to provide an update on the programme of works proposed. The works to be carried out include fire-stopping upgrades, intumescent paint/steel protection, and plasterboard partitions, emergency lighting, fire door upgrades and renewing cavity barriers.

The Fire Consultant has agreed the final scope of works with the Contractor. The Department intends to commence each element of work as soon as possible. It is anticipated that all works should be completed by the end of October.

On completion of the works these will be inspected by the Department and a full report will be submitted to the Fire Officer.

My Department has also been in communication with the Patron Body and the school authority and has updated them on progress. In addition a further meeting has been sought with the Fire Officer which will be attended by representatives of the School Authority and my Department.