Laois school first to get detailed investigation since nationwide safety alert

Work has started on Phase 2 investigations to a Laois primary school building, the first on a list of 22 Irish schools.

Presentation Primary School in Portarlington is first to receive further construction investigations, following a nationwide safety alert last November.

The school with over 700 pupils, has had steel fencing cordoning off the perimeter of its two storey extension, and making safe walkways since last November in case the building collapsed.

It followed the closure of a Dublin school building after the walls were found to be unsafely constructed. In all 42 schools built by the same company, Western Building Systems, around the same time were inspected by the Department of Education which had built the schools in its Rapid Schools programme.

Of them 22 schools needed protective fencing last Halloween with four in Laois. The others are Portlaoise Educate Together NS, Gaelscoil Phort Laoise and Maryborough NS all in Summerhill campus. 

On Thursday January 17, the Portarlington school's principal Cathal Ruane was notified by the Department of Education that they were first on the list of schools around Ireland to get further works.

He notified parents that night and on Friday January 18, teams of workmen arrived on site.

"We are delighted to be the first school," he said.

The building affected was a two storey extension that included junior classrooms, a hall and an ASD unit. It was opened in 2012.

"We have full use of the building inside, but there is a fence around it the width of the height of the building, so if it fell it wouldn't hit anybody, not that that would have happened. The health and safety of the kids was fully looked after. This was all precautionary to make the building 100% safe," the principal said.  

"We are lucky in that we have a big playground and an extra yard," he said.

He said parents were very supportive since November.

"We kept them informed and they have been very supportive," Mr Ruane said.

The Department of Education and Skills said the investigations are following up on initial work, and will be carried out by John Sisk & Co. The first five are Presentation Convent NS Portarlington. Carrigaline ETNS, Scoil Chaitlin Maude NS, Tallaght, Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada, Lucan and St Paul's NS Ratoath.

"Investigation work will take place at weekends to prevent disruption to the schools. The investigations will inform the permanent works required in the schools. The delivery of these works will be planned when the extent of the work needed is established. Works will be prioritised for delivery with the aim of maximising use of school holiday periods," the dept states.