Updated 12:45

Western Building Systems has called on the Government to explain how three schools it “previously deemed compliant” have now been fully or partially closed for safety reasons.

The three schools were closed after concerns were raised over structural issues.

Meanwhile, engineers have been tasked with completing safety examinations of all 42 schools built by the company by the end of the mid-term break.

Certified

This afternoon WBS published ‘certificates of substantial completion’ for the three closed schools signed by quantity surveyors on behalf of the Department of Education.

It said department inspectors were entitled to visit the sites on a fortnightly and monthly basis throughout the construction phase.

The company said it has again written the department to outline its position and repeat its request to meet with the Education Minister Joe McHugh.

Meanwhile, it said it has won 42 contracts out of the 80 Department of Education contracts it tendered for since 2005 – noting that the bids were accepted, “without a single question or clarification sought in relation to the particular building system proposed and selected.”

The department has yet to respond to the statement, however it has previously insisted that responsibility for certifying buildings lay entirely with the company prior to 2014.

Procurement

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, the National Parents Council said it was concerned that there was a systemic procurement problem with department contracts.

NPA communications officer Ross McMahon said the system could encourage the cutting of corners in a bid to save money.

“Now we have gone into an austere contract system where the lowest cost wins all the time,” he said.

“We have had companies who are supposed to be best at building schools - but that has not been the situation.”

Straightforward

He said the builds in question should have been relatively straight forward.

“I would have more faith in some of the pupils within the schools with Lego than what seems to have gone on,” he said.

“It is not rocket science to work on the tie between walls; to ensure that basic standards in basic buildings are completed.”

Education Minister Joe McHugh said the principals of all schools facing inspections have been “notified of the planned opening up works” and will receive practical advice on the nature of the works in the coming days.

“While we await the outcome of further structural assessments, we would wish to be clear that school buildings will only be closed where it is deemed necessary to do so, and every effort will be made to minimise disruption to students, staff and families,” he said.

He said department officials carried out site visits at the three affected schools yesterday alongside Western Building Systems and a team of structural engineers.