Department blocked seven bids to get school fire safety reports, says group

The Department of Education allegedly blocked seven separate attempts by officials from schools affected by the fire safety scandal to access inspection reports into the facilities between 2015 and this year.

Educate Together made the claim as it backed calls from parents and teachers for a comprehensive review of fire safety standards in all school buildings amid growing concern over Celtic Tiger-era built facilities.

On Friday, the department confirmed it is instigating a sample review of 25 schools built under the 2008 rapid build programme.