Written answers

Tuesday, 27 November 2018

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Refurbishment

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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266. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when will the repair of the of the two schools (details supplied) will be completed; the estimated costs for same; if a supplementary estimate will be required to fund repairs; the way in which they will be funded; and when the restoration will be fully completed. [49293/18]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, over the course of the mid-term break my Department undertook structural assessments on all 42 school buildings constructed by the Western Building Systems since 2003 which were part of the Department's Design and Build school building programme. The safety of school students and staff has been and will continue to be my Department's overriding priority.

The two schools referred to by the Deputy opened at ground floor level initially following internal precautionary measures which were carried out over the mid-term break. Works to the upper floor areas are now underway and it is anticipated that these works will be completed to allow the schools in question to open to receive all students in the next few weeks. This is the immediate priority for my Department.

My Department will now be moving as quickly as possible to the next phase, which is to initiate more detailed structural investigations at the 42 schools and, following on from this, to implement the permanent remediation works required. This will enable an implementation plan to be put in place which will include, as appropriate, projected timelines and expected remediation costs. Until such time as this work is completed, a robust cost estimate cannot be formulated. Therefore there are currently no plans at this stage for an additional supplementary estimate. The Department fully intends to pursue the company through all contractual and legal channels for the cost of the precautionary measures and the remediation work.

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