Pyrite found in local Primary School

Pyrite has been discovered in St Patrick's in Diswellstown, Castleknock, following an inspection by the Department of Education.

The school was built in 2006 but problems began to appear in recent years with distorted door frames, skirting boards and fittings, pre-cast stairs lifting and extensive cracking.

Engineering consultants have advised that the hardcore infill from all areas of the building and surrounding external areas will now have to be removed.

Safety is paramount but it will cost several million Euros to put this right. It is very disappointing that scarce resources must now be used to make newly built schools safe again. Years of sloppy building standards and poor regulation by the previous Fianna Fail/Green Party government are coming back to haunt us when we can least afford it.

I shall be asking the council to indicate if the shared community and sports facility at St. Patrick’s N.S. has also been inspected for pyrites and if not, to take immediate action.

One wonders what other civic buildings are infected with pyrite that has yet to manifest itself. The Department of Education carried out a risk assessment of the schools deemed to be at most risk of pyrite damage due to their location near to the quarries containing pyrites. Out of 24 schools inspected, 3 were found to contain pyrites in the infill. A risk assessment must be done for other public buildings as well.

The second school is St Canice's Boys' School in Finglas, Dublin which was refurbished and had an extension completed in 2005.

The third school, St Peter's in Phibsboro, Dublin, which was extensively refurbished in 2007, could face repairs totalling up to €1.5m.