Schools are set to reopen following examinations
By Brendan Grehan
FOLLOWING structural examinations carried out at Lucan’s Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada and Scoil Chaitlín Maude, both schools will be re-opening on Monday.
The two schools were part of a group of eight in South Dublin County named last week which underwent structural examination.
Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada in Lucan
Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada is planning to partially reopen next Monday.
A spokesperson for the School told The Echo: "I have received an update from the Department of Education & Skills that our school can partially reopen after the mid-term break.
"The structural assessment of Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada in Lucan identified structural issues which require both external and internal intervention.
“An appropriate engineering solution, to be implemented during the mid-term break, will allow the ground floor of the building to re-open after the break.
“The interim accommodation team in the Department of Education & Skills is working with the school Principal and Patron to put in place an interim accommodation solution for the remaining classes with a view to ensuring that all classes can be accommodated when the school reopens on November 5.”
A Spokesperson for the Department of Education said that “all displaced classes in the school can be accommodated in other school premises”.
He added: “ School transport arrangements will be put in place from the existing school buildings in order to minimise disruption to students and their families”
Scoil Chatlín Maude in Tallaght
Over in Tallaght, Scoil Chaitlín Maude is planning to reopen on Monday too. Structural issues were found in the exteriors and the school will require protective fencing and decking.
A spokesperson said: “We will be open to receive pupils on November 5 as scheduled.
“In the case of our school, Scoil Chaitlín Maude, structural issues were identified which present a risk to the external leaf only and will require intervention in the form of a fence around the school building and some protective decking. This will be put in place during the course of the mid-term break”.
The Minister for Education, Joe McHugh TD said he was pleased with the progress being made.
He said: “I appreciate that parents, pupils and staff are keen to hear results from inspections at schools and the Department is confident that once further analysis is carried out by engineers and consultants we will be in a position to confirm decisions in the next day or two.”
