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:

“The outcomes of further structural assessments which we have received today are important in providing clarity to school authorities, students and parents."

"The advice I have received is that no other building has presented the same severity of structural issues as those identified in Phase 1 of Ardgillan Community College, which was built in 2009.”

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.

Summary of Structural Assessments to Date 31/10/2018

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

County	School Name	Roll Number
Donegal	Letterkenny Educate Together National School	20235P
Dublin	Luttrellstown Community College	76130P
Dublin	Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua, Dublin 18	20425U
Dublin	Broombridge Educate Together National School	20453C
Dublin	Scoil Choilm Community National School, Porterstown	20241K
Dublin	Gaelscoil na Giúise, Firhouse	20412L
Dublin	Scoil Aoife Community National School, Citywest	20422O
Dublin	Firhouse Educate Together National School	20411J
Laois	Maryborough National School, Portlaoise	14838N
Meath	Gaelscoil Thulach na nÓg, Dunboyne	20082Q
Wexford	St Joseph's Primary School, Gorey	18280I

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

County	School Name	Roll Number
Cork	Scoil Phádraig Naofa, Rochestown	20335T
Dublin	Scoil Chaitlín Maude, Tallaght	19872P
Dublin	Castlemills Education Centre, Balbriggan	n/a
Dublin	Lucan East Educate Together National School	20303G
Kildare	Scoil Phádraig Naofa, Athy	16705E
Kildare	Athy Model School (GP Hall Extension only)	06209J
Kildare	Gaelscoil Átha Í (GP Hall Extension only)	20192A
Laois	Convent National School, Portarlington	15556I
Laois	Gaelscoil Phortlaoise	20081O
Laois	Portlaoise Educate Together National School	20347D
Meath	Coláiste De Lacy, Ashbourne	76196W
Meath	Gaelscoil na Mí, Ashbourne	20382F
Meath	St Paul's National School, Ratoath	20215J
Meath	Ashbourne Educate Together National School	20396Q

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

County	School Name	Roll Number
Dublin	Tyrrelstown Educate Together National School	20201V
Dublin	St. Luke’s National School, Tyrellstown	16675V
Dublin	Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada, Lucan	20223I

Schools subject to ongoing structural assessment and analysis

County	School Name	Roll Number
Cork	Gaelscoil Mhichíl Uí Choileáin, Clonakilty	20006A
Cork	Cara Junior (Special) School	20354A
Cork	Carrigaline Educate Together National School	20310D
Cork	St. Colman's Boys National School, Macroom	15597W
Dublin	Lucan Community National School, Balgaddy Rd	20426W
Dublin	Griffeen Valley Educate Together National school	20166W
Dublin	Rush and Lusk Educate Together National School	20176C
Dublin	St Francis of Assisi Primary School, Belmayne	20304I
Dublin	Belmayne Educate Together National School	20308Q
Galway	Galway Educate Together National School	20000L
Kildare	Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha	20428D
Westmeath	Mullingar Educate Together National School	20188J
Wicklow	Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath	20301C

School building closed

County	School Name	Roll Number
Dublin	Ardgillan Community College (Phase 1 only)	76129H