Celbridge School Closure: 400 pupils sent home as urgent safety works ordered
The celbridge school closure has seen St Patrick’s National School in Celbridge send home about 400 pupils after external assessments identified fire safety and structural compliance matters requiring urgent attention. The board of management made the decision to pause occupation from Thursday (ET) to allow priority works and verification of building compliance. The move, the board says, is a precaution taken in the interest of the safety, health and welfare of pupils and staff.
Board action and school logistics
The board of management at St Patrick’s National School in Celbridge notified parents on Wednesday (ET) that independent assessments had identified a number of fire safety and building compliance matters which require urgent attention. “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, ” said Breda Holmes, chairperson of the board of management at St Patrick’s Primary School. The board stated that structural and building compliance verification measures are among the issues being addressed.
Immediate reactions from politicians and staff
“Right now the teachers and parents are trying to digest the news that from next week, their school is closed, ” said Aidan Farrelly, Social Democrats TD for Kildare North, pressing for clarity on contingency plans for displaced pupils and staff. “Home schooling, it’s not an option. We need to see a black and white course of action for these children, for the teachers and parents, ” Mr Farrelly added. Naoise Ó Cearúil, Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare North, called the situation “completely unacceptable” and demanded an immediate solution.
Celbridge School Closure: department response and next steps
The Department of Education has arranged to meet the school’s patron and the school authority on Thursday (ET) with the aim that St Patrick’s reopens as soon as possible. The Department says it has engaged project managers and contractors in recent weeks to address structural defects and that it received emergency works applications from the school in June and November of last year; revised applications were not received. Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton visited the school on January 14 (ET) and was made aware of the issues.
How pupils and families are being managed
The student body were sent home with books and worksheets to occupy them while the celbridge school closure remains in place, and parents have been encouraged to homeschool where possible during the period of inactivity. The board emphasised the decision was taken proactively and acknowledged the disruption it would cause to families. A meeting with board management, school staff and parents is due to take place on Thursday evening (ET) to outline the verification process and the co-ordination of necessary remedial works.
Officials say the closure will allow for immediate implementation of priority fire safety measures and further verification of structural and building compliance matters. The celbridge school closure will remain under review while engagement with relevant statutory authorities continues and emergency works applications are processed. Parents, teachers and political representatives are pressing for clarity and a timetable for remedial works and a long-term solution for St Patrick’s, with calls for a commitment to deliver a new school if required.
