Parents Raise Safety Concerns After “Emergency Works” At Celbridge Primary School

School community says temporary fixes at St Patrick’s Primary School highlight need for long-term solution for ageing modular building

Parents and members of the school community at St Patrick’s Primary School Celbridge have expressed serious concern following “emergency works” carried out at the school over the weekend.

The school, which has around 400 pupils and staff, had already been forced to close on March 5th and 6th after urgent safety concerns were identified in external fire safety and building compliance reviews.

Correspondence sent to families confirmed that a number of interventions took place inside the building over the weekend in an effort to prepare the school for reopening.

However, many parents say the works appear to be temporary measures applied to a structure that independent assessments have already identified as presenting serious safety risks.

Below is the statement issued by parents this morning: 

"Parents and members of the school community have reacted with deep concern following correspondence confirming that a series of so-called emergency works were carried out over the weekend inside the building. The school, which has approximately 400 pupils and staff, was already closed on the 5th and 6th of March due to urgent safety concerns identified in recent external fire safety and building compliance reviews. This disruption caused significant concern and upset among families, heightening existing fears about the safety of the building. The communication from the Board of Management outlines multiple interventions, which the school community views as temporary measures applied to a structure that independent assessments have already identified as presenting serious safety risks. Many parents have also expressed concerns about sending their children into the school building with ongoing works scheduled to take place over the coming weeks with some describing the school as “an active building site.

"The works described in the communications include the relocation of two modular units intended to function as Special Education Teaching (SET) classrooms, connection of electrical power to the main board, and removal of planters and bike racks to improve footpath accessibility and escape route clearance.

"Further measures included installation of scaffold handrails along the first-floor exterior to facilitate roof repairs, replacement of emergency lighting and signage in affected areas, and treatment of mould identified in bathrooms and classroom spaces. An additional inspection is scheduled to take place. The presence of black mould in the school has been a serious concern for many parents, particularly those who have children with existing respiratory issues with some questioning the adequacy of the treatment undertaken over the weekend.

"Temporary internal reconfiguration also appears to have been undertaken. The General Purpose Room / PE Hall and a special needs classroom are being used on an interim basis to accommodate teaching spaces. In the PE room, vinyl flooring was replaced. In the special needs classroom, a partition was removed, and temporary flooring was installed pending future works.

"Particular concern has been expressed within the community regarding the closure of the sensory support room. According to the correspondence, ceiling tiles and insulation were removed from the room, and the space will remain closed pending installation of a ventilation system. Parents have described the closure of this specialist environment as a significant loss, given the importance of such facilities for vulnerable pupils.

"While the Board states that these measures were carried out to prepare the school for operation, members of the school community have characterised the intervention as a short-term patching approach applied to a building that has already been repeatedly identified as structurally and operationally compromised.

"Community representatives emphasise that the school’s concerns are not limited to visible maintenance issues but relate to the underlying condition of the modular structure itself. The building, constructed in 2008 as temporary accommodation, was originally expected to be replaced within five years but has remained in continuous use for almost two decades.

"Parents have also reiterated their anxiety about the disruption caused to children’s education, particularly for pupils with additional learning needs, and have called for urgent clarity regarding future accommodation plans. Members of the community have emphasised that they are not necessarily seeking a traditional permanent building, but would be satisfied with the provision of new, safe, modern modular school facilities that meet appropriate safety and educational standards. The key priority expressed by parents is that pupils and staff are housed in an environment that is unquestionably safe and fit for purpose.

"The school community continues to seek transparency regarding safety assurance, future construction plans, and the sustainability of current stop-gap measures."

The statement above was issued after parents received the following statement from St. Patrick's Primary School Board of Management yesterday:

"Dear Families,

"Please see the below update regarding the emergency works carried out over the last few days to ensure the school can be fully operational tomorrow.

"Two modular units, which will be used as SET classrooms, have been successfully relocated .  The power supply has also been connected to the main school electrical board and is now fully operational.

"To improve accessibility to the modular units and ensure the escape route in that area remains clearer, the planters and bike racks were removed from the footpath.

"The scaffold handrail has also been installed along the first-floor side of the school to allow roof repair works on that side of the building.  Access will be provided through the existing scaffolding structure, which avoids further disruption to the school surroundings.

"In relation to the life safety systems, as previously confirmed, these are operational. Over the last few days , the replacement of emergency lights and emergency signage in the areas where required , was also completed.

"Mould observed in some bathrooms and classrooms has been addressed. An additional inspection will be carried out early tomorrow morning to ensure no further issues are present.

"As agreed, works  were carried out to prepare the  General (SIC) Purpose Room/P.E. Hall and the special needs classroom so they can temporarily accommodate two classrooms.

"In the  P .E. room, the vinyl flooring has been replaced to ensure the area is suitable for use. In the special needs classroom, the partition  was removed to maximise the available space.  The flooring was repaired in the corner of the room and  a temporary vinyl finish  was installed to ensure the classroom is safe and suitable for use. This temporary vinyl will be replaced at a later stage with the final flooring finish, which will also be installed throughout the rest of the school.

"In relation to the sensory room, all ceiling tiles and the insulation within the ceiling void were removed. No further works were carried out at this stage as a ventilation system will be required in order to prevent similar issues occurring in the future. For this reason, the room will remain closed for the moment."