The Department of Education has clarified details of the findings of a risk assessment carried out at Ardgillan Community College last Friday. It says the assessment found that there was an 80% risk of parts of the school external wall falling in the event of storm force winds. This could be bricks dislodging and falling. Structural engineers who examined the school also found a 20% risk of collapse of internal walls under the same circumstances. The Department of Education said yesterday that issues discovered in two Tyrrelstown schools yesterday were similar to those found at Ardgillan.
Larbre34 wrote: » This is awful stuff. Obviously the 40 odd schools in question will have to be properly inspected, but even these three are an indictment of procurement and oversight practices. Its bad enough that folk buying new build homes in the last 15 years have had to worry about pyrite, fire protection and sound insulation, now that same generation can't trust the buildings supposed to protect their kids. This is potentially so bad that we'll see some civil servants immediately retiring with only 90% of their pension secured. Catastrophic.
JupiterKid wrote: » Yes, shocking but all part of the piss poor construction practices by cowboy builders during the so called Celtic Tiger era. The legacy is to be seen in Priory Hall, the pyrite scandal, the mica scandal and now this.. How many more incidences of atrocious building practices will come to light? Self-certification has been a total disaster as we can now clearly see that builders and those supplying builders with materials just cannot be trusted.
Tyrrelstown Educate Together wrote: Dear Parents / Guardians, As you may know, the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Education Joe McHugh visited Tyrrelstown Educate Together NS, St Luke’s NS and the Community Centre earlier this morning. Following a brief observation of the external buildings the Taoiseach and Minister met with both Principals and the Manager of the Community Centre, among others, to discuss the impact the recent closure has had on the local community. Having raised a variety of concerns that directly impact the children, parents and community in general, we have received assurances and a commitment from the Taoiseach and the Department of Education in finding a suitable solution that would allow children to return to education as soon as reasonably possible. We have also been informed that the Department of Education are assessing a range of viable options for both schools and will inform of us of these in the coming days. We are committed to keeping our school community informed of any developments as they occur and will update you as soon as we have any tangible information from the Department of Education. Kind regards Tim Stapleton
advertsfox wrote: » Update from the school via an email today...
deandean wrote: » Well if the structural assessment concluded there is an 80% chance of the outer walls falling down in the event of a storm, and bearing in mind the storms those schools have been subjected to in the last couple of years, I would say the assessment is completely wrong. Sensationalism at its worst.
deandean wrote: Well if the structural assessment concluded there is an 80% chance of the outer walls falling down in the event of a storm, and bearing in mind the storms those schools have been subjected to in the last couple of years, I would say the assessment is completely wrong. Sensationalism at its worst.
byhookorbycrook wrote: » DES has emailed all school principals looking for extra space in other schools, even those outside the catchment areas.
deiseindublin wrote: » Just what distance could students (and staff) be reasonably expect to travel each day?
beauf wrote: » Anything on a public transport link within an hour or so?
Tyrrelstown Educate Together - Newsletter wrote: Dear Parents / Guardians, Over the course of yesterday and into today we have been in regular discussion with the Department of Education and their Consultants regarding the options for an interim accommodation solution for Tyrrelstown Educate Together NS. As I'm sure you can appreciate, this is a fast-moving situation but we want to keep you as informed as we can, as things progress. We are all in agreement that the preferred solution would involve staying on-site in alternative accommodation, keeping our pupils, teachers, staff and community together as much as possible. Investigations on establishing whether this is a viable option will be carried out over the next few days as well as establishing other possibilities as a contingency. We will endeavour to keep you updated as things develop and in the meantime, please find below a statement received from the Department last night. Kind regards Tim StapletonThursday October 25th 2018Update on WBS Building Issues The Department of Education and Skills has today been in contact with all schools constructed by Western Building Systems, and which are due to undergo a structural assessment, to confirm the arrangements for that assessment. The assessments are proceeding over the weekend and mid-term break in order to minimise disruption to schools and ensure that they can be completed as quickly as possible. The Department’s interim accommodation team has been working intensively over the course of today, in consultation with the school principals, to secure an interim accommodation solution for Tyrrelstown Educate Together National School and St Luke’s National School. Minister McHugh added, “Good progress has been made today in ensuring that the students and staff of the affected schools in Tyrrelstown will have an interim accommodation solution by the end of the mid-term break. While we await the outcome of further structural assessments, we would wish to be clear that school buildings will only be closed where it is deemed necessary to do so, and every effort will be made to minimise disruption to students, staff and families.” Site visits at Ardgillan Community College and the schools in Tyrrelstown also took place today, involving Department of Education and Skills officials, structural engineers and representatives of Western Building Systems. This provided Western Building Systems with the opportunity to view the structural issues identified at the three schools. The Department is awaiting a response from Western Building Systems. The overriding priority of the Department remains the health and safety of the schoolnpupils and staff.
PhoenixParker wrote: » Generally a bus would be provided between the existing school site and the new school site.
blanch152 wrote: » How are civil servants to blame for private sector contractors criminally ripping off the state by building sub-standard schools?
A Shaved Duck? wrote: » People simply cant blame the builders here...somebody in the department of education has to sign off.
