Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
286. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if her Department will assist the board of management of a school (details supplied) to ensure that the entire site at the school is surveyed and cleared of any potentially explosive devices following the discovery of same on the site last November. [17494/24]
View answerThis school to which the Deputy refers was granted approval for the provision of 1 x SEN, 1 x Mainstream classroom and 2 x Special Education Tuition Rooms under my Department's Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation Programme. The project is nearing substantial completion with the classrooms occupied by pupils this month, some external works are on-going and expected to complete shortly.
During the process of excavating for the new mains water pipework, the contractor’s digger operative and assistant discovered what they believed to be an explosive embedded in the rock. All works were stopped immediately and An Garda Síochána were called to investigate. The area was fully cordoned off until the authorities arrived to investigate. As a precaution, the school was closed to await the investigation of the suspected explosive device. An Garda Síochána arrived at the scene and remained there overnight. The Army 's bomb disposal unit (BDU) arrived the following day to deal with the suspected explosive device. The Health and Safety Authority was also notified of the issue.
My Department liaised closely with the school and the Project Management company (Rogerson Reddan and Associates) during construction works in relation to this matter. The timeline for re-opening the school and recommencing the construction work was determined based on the advice of the relevant authorities.
The Project Management company, on behalf of my Department, made contact with engineering firms and survey companies recommended to them by the army explosive unit and asked for assistance in checking and clearing the remainder of the site of other devices. As there were no Irish companies that could carry out these surveys, two UK companies were contacted. These companies assessed the situation and deemed the explosive material found on-site is undetectable with the technology currently available.
