Update on WBS Building Issues

The Department of Education and Skills wishes to provide an update on the programme of structural assessments at schools constructed by Western Building Systems (WBS) and the department’s response to issues arising.

The department confirms that initial on-site structural assessments in relation to all 42 schools constructed by Western Building Systems were completed yesterday.

The analysis of the data gathered has continued during the course of today, in consultations between the project managers, structural engineers and department officials. In some cases, further on-site inspections were also required today.

The below table confirms the current position in relation to the 42 schools which have been subject to structural assessment.

The table indicates the outcome of the assessments for a total of 29 schools and it is intended to provide clarity to the remaining schools tomorrow.

The summary position, on the basis of all assessments completed to date, is:

• 11 schools cleared to open in full without further intervention
• 14 schools enabled to open in full following external intervention in the form of a fence around the building and protective decking
• 3 schools in which the ground floor will be enabled to open following the implementation of internal engineering solutions and external interventions
• 13 schools subject to ongoing structural assessment and analysis (outcome to be confirmed tomorrow)
• phase 1 of Ardgillan Community College closed

Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh TD, said:

Contractors have commenced work on site at five schools previously confirmed as requiring internal and/or external interventions. Teams are now mobilising to implement the necessary external interventions at other schools as outlined in the table beneath. The target is to have this work completed in the coming days.

A later phase of this process will require further investigations and long-term remediation measures, where required.

The department’s interim accommodation team has been working in close cooperation with the principals of Tyrrelstown ETNS, St Luke’s National School and Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada, Lucan over recent days in order to confirm interim accommodation solutions for the classes which will temporarily be displaced from those schools. Offsite interim accommodation arrangements have now been confirmed in principle and communications will issue from the schools shortly.

A further update will issue tomorrow, 1 November.

Schools cleared to open in full, without any internal or external intervention

Schools enabled to open in full, following external intervention in the form of a fence around the building and protective decking

Schools in which the ground floor will be enabled to open following the implementation of internal engineering solutions and external interventions

Schools subject to ongoing structural assessment and analysis

School building closed