Department of Education commissions structural survey over Northern Ireland school concrete fears

School children during a Year 5 class at a primary school. Credit: PA Wire
It follows a decision in England to immediately close schools built with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), which has been assessed to be prone to collapse.

A survey has been commissioned by the Department of Education to carry out structural surveys to see if a form of concrete which has been deemed unsafe has been used in schools in Northern Ireland.

It follows a decision in England to immediately close schools built with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), which has been assessed to be prone to collapse.

In a statement a spokesperson for the Department of Education said: “The Department and the Education Authority have been examining the issues in regard to RAAC for a number of months resulting in the Department taking urgent action to determine the extent to which RAAC may be present in schools across Northern Ireland.”

"This work is being taken forward as a matter of urgency to ensure that any necessary mitigations are put in place promptly.

“Schools will be contacted by the Education Authority as work progresses.”

In England 104 schools have been found to be at risk of collapse or of major disruption due to having the lightweight type of concrete.

Officials have said some pupils may be forced back into Covid remote-style learning.

RAAC is a lightweight building material used from the 1950s up to the mid-1990s, but now assessed to be at risk of collapse.

It is believed to have a lifespan of around 30 years. The National Audit Office (NAO) report warned that around 24,000 school buildings, or 38% of the total, were beyond their estimated design lifespan.

The Education Secretary Gillian Keegan told broadcasters: “Most parents should not be worried about this at all.”

Teachers' union the NASUWT has written to the Department of Education permanent secretary seeking action in relation to schools in Northern Ireland.

Official Justin McCamphill said: "Parents, teachers and pupils will be concerned to read news reports that the UK government are having to take take immediate action to address the risks associated with Raac.

"The Department of Education now need to clarify what steps they are taking to ensure that school buildings in Northern Ireland are safe.

"Nothing is more important than ensuring the safety of children and young people and those who work in our schools."

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