Statement on Structural Flaws in School Buildings

The Department of Education and Skills (DES) has communicated to Educate Together that it has identified structural flaws in a number of school buildings that will require temporary works to be carried out in coming weeks.

Educate Together is deeply concerned about the recently discovered structural flaws in these Educate Together school buildings (which are in addition to the structural flaws identified in other schools in 2018) and will look for the Department to ensure that these deficits do not occur in the future school building projects.

Updated September 2019: The reopening of Firhouse ETNS, Firhouse ETSS, Griffeen Valley ETNS and Shellybanks ETNS were to be delayed by a few days as a result of issues identified by DES engineers.

The timing of the reopening of schools is a matter for the Boards of the schools and the DES and each school will be in touch with its staff and parents.

Educate Together acknowledges these assessments and works are necessary given that safety should be the number one concern for all stakeholders in this situation.

However, Educate Together recognises and shares the frustration and inconvenience faced by the families, staff and wider school communities involved.