A primary school in Co Kildare will close from Thursday after a “number of fire safety and building compliance matters” were identified that require “urgent attention”.
Parents of students at St Patrick’s Primary School in Celbridge were notified by the board of management on Wednesday. It is understood there are around 400 children enrolled at the school on Hazelhatch Road.
In an email to parents on Wednesday afternoon, the chairperson of the board of management said the decision had been taken to temporarily close the school building with effect from Thursday following a series of recent external fire safety and building compliance reviews.
“This decision has been made in the interest of the safety, health and welfare of our pupils and staff,” said chairperson Breda Holmes.
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“Independent assessments identified a number of fire safety and building compliance matters which require urgent attention. While there has been no specific incident giving rise to this decision, the board considers it prudent and responsible to pause occupation of the building in order to implement priority works and ensure full compliance.”
Holmes said the closure would allow for the immediate implementation of priority fire safety measures and further verification of structural and building compliance matters.
She said it would also allow for engagement with the relevant statutory authorities to confirm a “clear compliance pathway” and the co-ordination of “necessary remedial works.”
Holmes added that the board wished to emphasise the decision was taken “proactively” and recognised the “disruption” it would cause to families.
“The safety of our school community must, however, remain the overriding consideration,” she added.
Holmes said the board of management was working closely with the Department of Education, professional advisers and relevant statutory authorities.
A meeting with board management, school staff and parents is due to take place on Thursday evening.
Safety concerns regarding the school were recently raised by Social Democrats and Kildare North TD Aidan Farrelly at the Public Accounts Committee.
Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare North Naoise Ó Cearúil said: “What has happened today is completely unacceptable and an immediate solution needs to be found.
“The Department of Education needs to stop sitting on their hands and act in the best interests of these children.”
In a statement on Thursday evening, the Department of Education said it has arranged to meet the school’s patron and the school’s authority on Thursday to ensure St Patrick’s reopens “as soon as possible”.
The Department said it has, in recent weeks, engaged project managers and contractors to address structural defects at the school.
It said it had received a number of emergency works applications from the school in June and November last year, for which it sought additional information from the school. “Revised applications for emergency works funding were not received,” said the department.
It said Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton visited the school on January 14th, and was made aware of the issues.
The department said that, after the school decided in January to close two classrooms because of water ingress, two modular units were delivered to the school and emergency repairs and remedial works were completed.
“The school has been provided with written programme updates including delivery timelines for specific works. The most recent was sent to the school last Friday (27th February).
“This programme outlined a number of actions which are planned, including use of the two modular units to facilitate the temporary decanting of classes to allow upgrades of classrooms to take place.
“Works will continue in the days and weeks ahead, including during the mid-term and Easter break.
“The department is satisfied that the methodology provided to the school addresses all the issues which have been raised by the school including issues raised with regards to life safety systems and fire safety measures.”
The school has been contacted for comment.
