Ministers discuss classroom ceiling collapse

The collapse of a ceiling on a class of children at a school was being discussed by senior Government ministers today.

Pupils at St Nessan’s school in Mungret, Co Limerick, escaped injury when two plasterboards fell from the ceiling of a pre-fabricated building while they were studying.

Minister of State Tim O’Malley said he would be meeting Tánaiste Mary Harney to discuss the situation later today.

He told radio: “This is an awful thing to happen and I am obviously delighted that no-one was injured but what happened shouldn’t have happened.”

“The prefabs are totally unsuitable. There is no doubt that they would not pass safety standards.

“There is a safety issue which is not satisfactory from anyone’s point of view, for the teachers or the children, and I will be talking to the Tanaiste about the issue.”

Labour’s Jan O’Sullivan said the incident proved that promises had been broken by the Government.

“Parents and teachers heard them in good faith, believed what they were told and promises were broken,” she said.

Officials from the Office of Public Works are to assess the situation at the school.