Belfast primary school classrooms declared 'unsafe', RAAC identifies | News

Several classrooms at a Belfast school have been declared unsafe following the identification of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

The case was confirmed in a block of eight classes at Cairnshill Primary School in the south of the city.

The Department for Education said engineers confirmed the block was not safe for continued use.

Steps have been taken to close affected classrooms and the remainder of the building remains safe for staff and students.

The department's permanent secretary, Dr Mark Browne, said remedial work was underway.

“The safety of our teachers, staff and students in our schools is our top priority.

“We fully understand that this news will be concerning for staff, parents/carers and the wider school community,” he said.

“The Ministry and the Education Authority are working closely with the school to ensure that affected classes can return as early as possible next week.

“The ministry will fund any necessary repair works and we are committed to ensuring there is as little disruption as possible to the school and parents. »

RAAC, a form of lightweight, 'bubbly' concrete commonly used in construction between the 1950s and mid-1990s, has been identified in a number of buildings in England and Scotland.

In September, the Department for Education in Northern Ireland commissioned the Education Authority to carry out structural investigations to determine whether the RAAC was present in schools across the region.

The EA maintenance department carried out this work.

South Belfast MP Claire Hanna said the discovery of RAAC at Cairnshill Primary School would raise concerns but said “every precaution is now being taken to prioritise the safety of children, teachers, staff and parents”.

“I have been in contact with the school management and the Education Authority and I am satisfied that their initial response was guided by the single priority of ensuring the safety of children and school users,” she said.

“This is an evolving situation and in order to protect the wellbeing of children, teachers and other staff, eight classrooms have been closed and evacuated as a precaution.

“This is exactly the right approach as we learn more about the risks at these sites.

“I will continue to stay in contact with the school and the Education Authority as more information becomes available and a plan is put in place to manage this situation.

“We need to address this issue quickly to ensure there is minimal disruption to these children's education.

“There will undoubtedly be disruptions to the lives and schedules of everyone involved. I appeal to everyone involved to work with the school and with the rest of us. We all want this situation to be dealt with safely and quickly in the best interests of children, parents and staff. »