The Department of Education has been slammed after four Dublin primary schools were forced to delay their opening dates due to a lack of certification.
Educate Together said the “lack of communication” from the department has “exacerbated the stress caused by the delays”.
The following school openings have been deferred until next Monday: Harold's Cross ETNS, Dublin 13 ETNS, Killester Raheny Clontarf ETNS, Dublin South City ETNS (now renamed Harcourt Terrace ETNS).
All four schools were originally meant to open last Monday.
Additionally Dublin North East ETSS, a secondary school, opened on August 26 in a temporary accommodation in Belmayne ETNS as initial temporary accommodation on the site of Grange Community College was not ready.
A spokesman for Educate Together said: “Educate Together recognises and shares the deep frustration and inconvenience faced by the families, staff and wider school communities involved.
“No school community should be placed in this difficult situation. This is a particularly disappointing situation for Junior Infant children and their families to find themselves in.”
They further went on to say that these were all government construction projects and “neither Educate Together nor the Managers and Principals of the schools have had any role or responsibility for their delivery”.
They added: “The necessary certifications can only be completed by the Department of Education and Skills and their contractors.
“However, lack of communication from the DES with Educate Together and the Principals of the schools in question has exacerbated the stress caused by the delays.”
They also said that Educate Together had communicated its concerns regarding the fact that all 12 of the new schools opening in 2019 were opening in temporary accommodation.
A spokesman for the Department of Education confirmed a number of schools were affected by delays of a few days to allow for the completion of some external works to ensure the buildings are fully certified.
He added: "The Department has met with representatives of Educate Together on a monthly basis over the last twelve months to keep the Patron Body and its schools informed of progress in the provision of accommodation for these schools.
"Over the last few weeks there has been very considerable communication between Department officials and Educate Together."
The affected schools are due to open on Monday, September 9.
