School building site padlocked
FEARS surrounding the scheduled completion of the new extension at Ard Scoil Ris secondary school on the NCRd heightened this Wednesday as the site was closed, with the future of up to 30 construction workers in the balance.
A source informed the Limerick Post that a number of sub contractors had removed their equipment and some building materials on Tuesday night, and the site closed hours later.
Up to 70 people were employed there during the height of the redevelopment.
With up to 12 months work still to be completed, the source said that construction workers were told that a two- week unpaid suspension of the build was sought by Cordil to allow their finances come back into line.
On Wednesday morning, the site was under chain and padlock, with the site manager stating that all queries should be directed to the Galway offices of Cordil. Subsequent calls and enquiries were not responded to.
Cordil Construction, contractors for the €5.5million euro expansion plan, started operations there in 2010.
The redevelopment includes a new library, canteen and 16 new classrooms with an additional five new science rooms and specialist subject rooms.
In 2009, Ard Scoil Ris was the only Limerick school out of 43 announced nationally to benefit from a government school building programme.
The school has up to 700 pupils and the redevelopment was said to “enable Ardscoil Ris to become one of the most modern in the country,” according to the then Minister of State Peter Power, a past pupil.
School principal, Brid de Brun, was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press, however a statement received late on Wednesday evening stated:
“It is with regret that Ardscoil Rís have been informed by Cordil Construction Limited that they have suspended all works on all their sites from 1.00pm today. Ardscoil Rís has had a very positive working relationship with this company who have recently completed Phase One of the school’s building programme.
The school regrets the particuliar set of diificulties presently being experienced by this company and wishes to make it known that they have met, in full and on time, all of their contractual and financial committments to Cordil Construction Limited..
The Board of Management is currently working with the design team and the Department of Education and Skills to ensure the completion of the building programme.”
