Schools struggle with water shortages as pipes burst and leak

WATER shortages are the latest cause of concern for schools as local authorities around the country are struggling to restore and preserve supplies.

With freezing pipes, bursts and leaks in water mains being reported in most parts of the country, principals were trying to find out last night if they could expect to have enough water to allow pupils return to classes.

It is believed that more than half the country’s 4,000 primary and second level schools re-opened yesterday after Monday’s decision by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe to lift an order that they stay closed until Thursday. Parts of Cork’s northside were without water since Monday afternoon and some schools were keeping their fingers crossed they would be ready to re-open this morning.

“I’ve checked with the caretaker this afternoon and even if we’re out of running water, there should be enough for a day in the tanks.

“Luckily we had been open last Thursday and Friday, and all our staff were able to get back to open in time,” said Michael Walsh, principal of Sunday’s Well Boys National School in Sunday’s Well.

His and dozens of other schools in the city, mostly on the northside, already lost a week of classes when flooding damaged the city waterworks last November.

“We had been hoping to minimise any further loss of teaching and learning this school year after that, so hopefully this will be the last of it now,” said Mr Walsh.

While the bulk of the country’s second level schools were expected to open yesterday, many Junior and Leaving Certificate students may have lost more than five days of school when the effects of the weather this month and before Christmas are combined with school closures forced by the effects of flooding in some areas in November.

Mr O’Keeffe indicated on Monday he would not be expecting schools to reduce mid-term or Easter breaks to help them make up lost time, but his officials will meet representatives of school managers, teacher unions and parents to discuss how best lost teaching time can be restored.

Second level schools will not be found wanting in doing so, particularly for those preparing for state exams, according to the body representing almost 400 schools.