Written answers

Tuesday, 20 November 2018

Department of Education and Skills

Health and Safety

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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231. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if fire safety audits have been completed on schools completed by a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2004 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48332/18]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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My Department initiated a programme of fire safety assessments in 55 schools in Q4 2017.  This involved 30 schools constructed by a contractor under Design and Build contracts and a representative sample of 25 other schools constructed over the last 20 year, two of which were constructed by the company referred to by the Deputy.

Fire Safety Consultants have visited all 55 schools and to date 51 initial Fire Safety Assessment reports have been received in my Department with the remaining 4 reports due in the coming weeks. Fire Safety Assessment reports in respect of the two schools which were constructed by the company referred to by the Deputy have been received in my Department and have been shared with the school, Patron and Fire Officer.

The Fire Safety Consultants  have engaged directly with the fire officers in their respective local authorities to advise of remedial works planned and underway.  

The reports identify various housekeeping, maintenance and remedial works to be addressed and my Department has engaged the services of KSN Project Managers with a full technical team including Architects, Engineers and Fire Safety Consultants, to organise and oversee any necessary remedial works.

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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232. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on the completion of fire safety audits for schools since September 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48333/18]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department initiated a programme of fire safety assessments in 55 schools in Q4 2017.  This involved 30 schools constructed by a contractor under Design and Build contracts and a representative sample of 25 other schools constructed over the last 20 years. Fire Safety Consultants have visited all 55 schools and to date 51 initial Fire Safety Assessment reports have been received in my Department with the remaining 4 reports due in the coming weeks. The Fire Safety Consultants  have engaged directly with the fire officers in their respective local authorities to advise of remedial works planned and underway.  

The reports identify various housekeeping, maintenance and remedial works to be addressed and the Department has engaged the services of KSN Project Managers with a full technical team including Architects, Engineers and Fire Safety Consultants, to organise and oversee any necessary remedial works.

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