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Schools Building Projects Status

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2019

Wednesday, 6 March 2019

Ceisteanna (7)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

7. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take in relation to schools (details supplied); when work on the schools will be completed; when the schools will have full possession of all their facilities and school buildings again; the negotiations between the builders responsible and his Department; if there have been developments such as legal action in terms of the flaws and failures identified in the cases of these particular school buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10872/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí ó Béal (12 píosaí cainte)

What is the proposed timeline for completion of the works at the Tyrrelstown schools affected by the discovery of defects? The schools are surrounded by building works and remain wrapped in scaffolding which makes it really difficult for the teachers, pupils and parents. Notwithstanding the welcome visit of the Taoiseach and the Minister for Education and Skills which was filmed and broadcast widely on RTÉ and so on, there is no indication as to when they will get the schools back up and running fully in order that they may resume the full range of teaching activities.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta fá choinne na ceiste. Tá dul chun cinn déanta. B’fhéidir go mbeidh an freagra níos soiléire leis na sonraí atá de dhíth agus atá i mo fhreagra.

The schools in Tyrrelstown to which the Deputy refers, namely, St. Luke's national school and Tyrrelstown Educate Together, are in full possession of their buildings, albeit with precautionary measures in place to ensure safe occupancy. The safety of pupils and staff has been and remains our first priority. The Deputy will be aware that, following initial investigations at the schools last October and November, both internal and external precautionary measures were required in them. With the completion of the external precautionary measures, the schools were occupied initially at ground floor only. Works on the precautionary measures required on the upper floors were completed by 12 December 2018. One of the schools fully reoccupied its building at the time. The other opted to take up full occupancy again after the Christmas holidays.

More recently, detailed investigations were carried out at both schools. The purpose of the investigations is to determine the type and extent of issues in each of them and design permanent remediation solutions. The intention is that remediation works necessary in the schools, with 20 other schools that have precautionary measures in place, will be carried out in 2019. My Department has advised the schools accordingly. Work is advancing with the Office of the Chief State Solicitor and the Office of the Attorney General to devise a legal strategy to pursue the contractor in question for the costs of the precautionary measures and the permanent remediation works. Some proceedings have been issued against the contractor in relation to fire safety matters. To date, proceedings have issued in respect of Ardgillan community school which is partially closed as a result of concerns arising from investigations. The case will be back before the Commercial Court in early May.

I acknowledge the principals, teachers, staff, parents and pupils not just of the schools mentioned by the Deputy but of all of the schools affected, not just before Christmas when the issue emerged but also in the weeks and months since. I have met a number of the principals and staff and management of the schools, both at the time and since, and take the opportunity to express my thanks to them for the work they have being doing to make sure the impact on the pupils of the investigations to date is kept to a minimum.

I thank the Minister for his appreciation of the staff and communities in the school; however, I notice that he did not give a date for when the schools would return to full operation.

It will be some time this year. St. Luke's national school has 650 pupils and about 50 staff. It is a very big school, as is Tyrrelstown Educate Together. The school is forced to take three small breaks and three large breaks for the entire school population because it no longer has a school yard. The Minister has visited the school and knows that everything remains closed off. There was a promise that the county council would make a strip of land available along the side of the school that would allow it some space for a yard. I believe the Taoiseach actually told the Minister to have this done and I do not know why it has been held up. I know that staff in Fingal County Council are working on the issue.

The Deputy is eating into the time allocation for her final supplementary question.

Will the Minister tell us what is happening to facilitate the school?

I am interested in the new process in politics where the Taoiseach tells me to do something and I then tell Fingal County Council to do something. The Deputy knows that is not the way it works.

No; I just said the Taoiseach did tell the Minister to do it.

If there is a weakness in my Department, we are committed to acting. We are very committed to the two schools mentioned, as well as other schools. I have been to them and I am conscious that there is an issue with space. Any solution will involve all of the stakeholders. If Fingal County Council owns the land, I am sure it will be in a position to advise on the matter. The works will be finished in 2019. The most appropriate time to undertake them is during the summer.

That will happen. The remediation work needed, the design and work completed to date will inform us as to what other work is needed. I am conscious of the disruption and that other schools were also part of the solution. I met a staff member from one of the neighbouring schools where students were decanted. She spoke in positive terms of being in a position to help. I am from a rural part of the country where we are strong advocates of the meitheal and the community. I saw the urban meitheal in full drive in that area and I do not take it for granted.

All of that is excellent and that community spirit has always been a feature of life in Tyrrelstown. I am glad the Minister has had an opportunity to experience it. Does the Minister understand, however, what it means for a school with 650 children to have to organise six breaks a day? That has to be done because the Department of Education and Skills and the local county council have not been able to sort out the identified strip of land that everybody agrees would allow both schools, and St. Luke's in particular, to have a play area.

The Minister may need to send out an official to take photographs or I will take photographs and send them to the Minister. I am referring to something eminently fixable. I know the Minister wants to be hands-on and he can help fix this problem. What the school is enduring is intolerable. Many of the rooms inside are heavily fenced off. The Minister knows that. It is a difficult scenario for teachers and pupils.

In fairness, the Deputy is being constructive. Sometimes issues like this do not require a meeting or a major formal process, but an individual talking to another individual. I am sure Deputy Burton knows the director of services for the appropriate division within Fingal County Council. I do like to be hand-on. If she will provide that contact number to me, I will be happy to pass that on to my officials.

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