Hanafin urged to place children from burnt out school

Minister for Education Mary Hanafin was tonight urged to provide emergency accommodation for more than 300 children whose school was extensively damaged in a fire.

Four units of Dublin Fire Brigade involving more than 20 men battled the blaze at Scoil Naomh Phadraig in Lucan, in the west of the city, which broke out around 9pm yesterday.

One officer who was at the scene said the fire started among wheelie bins at the side of the building before spreading to the roof.

While gardaí launched an investigation they said it was too early to say whether it was stared deliberately.

Labour Dublin Mid-West TD Joanna Tuffy said alternative accommodation must be provided for the 319 pupils as a matter of urgency.

"I am urging Education Minister Mary Hanafin to spare no effort in securing emergency replacement school accommodation for these children so that their school year can continue with some semblance of normality."

Acting principal Eimear Ni Mhaolmhuaidh said it is not known when the school will reopen, adding parents and staff where in shock.

"Although the damage is extensive, more widespread destruction of the school building was avoided.

"A number of the rooms were very badly damaged along with a large section of the roof area.

"The gardaí are conducting a technical examination of the building," she said.

"Further decisions will be made when this work is completed and a general assessment of the damage can be made.

"The parents will be informed at the earliest possible opportunity of the school reopening but at this stage it is not possible to say when this will happen," she said.

Third officer with Dublin Fire Brigade David Bell said it took up to an hour to bring the blaze under control but units remained at the scene as a precaution until after 1am.

"There was an area where they stored wheelie bins in it and they were situated under a small canopy and the fire did start in that area," he said.

"It was well alight when the first engine arrived.

"It took us about 40 minutes to an hour to bring it fully under control."

A garda spokesman would not be drawn on the cause of the fire.

"There was extensive damage to the roof lining of the main school building.

"We are keeping an open mind at this time," he said.

Acting Mayor of South Dublin County Council Derek Keating, who represents Lucan, praised the local community for providing support to the school, which opened in 2,000, but said there was a sense of devastation.

"I met many, many parents and children and there was just an atmosphere of shock up there this morning," he said.

"There's well over 300 children at the school and there's now a sense of devastation."