Leak Shuts Junior Infants Class In 19-Year-Old "Temporary" School Building In Celbridge

Thursday, 22 January 2026 16:49

By Martin Osborne - Head Of News

It remains unclear as to when the works will be completed.

A leak forced the closure of a Junior Infants classroom at St Patrick’s Primary School in Celbridge today, with pupils sent home.

The class is located in a "temporary building" that has now been in use for 19 years.

An urgent assessment and repair works are due to take place tomorrow, after the Department of Education confirmed an assessor will attend the school to examine the damage and fast-track remedial works.

Kildare North Fianna Fail TD Naoise Ó Cearúil said he received direct confirmation that a project manager will be appointed and a contractor assigned without delay, with no further paperwork required from the school.

He said the issue is being treated as a priority, particularly given the age and condition of the temporary building, which has been in use for almost two decades.

He said the situation is "unacceptable", especially for Junior Infants, and has renewed calls for new modular units as an interim measure while the permanent school building progresses.

It remains unclear as to when the works will be completed.

Plans for a new permanent building at St Patrick’s School are currently only at the design stage of the Department of Education process.

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