TB school must make up lost days

A PRIMARY school forced to defer re-opening because of a TB outbreak will be expected to make up lost days during the remainder of the school year.

Ballintemple National School at Crab Lane, in the suburbs of Cork city, was scheduled to re-open next Monday, but following confirmation of three child cases of TB in pupils attending the school, start of term was deferred until September 6.

The Department of Education has confirmed the onus was on the school’s board of management to “make all reasonable efforts” to ensure days lost due to TB screening were re-couped. Under an agreement reached in 2007, primary schools are obliged to open 183 days of the year.