Management at a Dublin school will meet tomorrow to discuss ways to re-house around 200 students who have been left without a classroom after a major fire.
The blaze broke out at Scoil Chaitríona in Coolock in the early hours of this morning.
Both the junior and senior schools will remain closed for the rest of the week.
Architects visited the site today to assess the damage.
A Department of Education spokesperson said focus will now turn to getting the school back operation – with hopes the students could be back in class as early as next week.
Image via @DubFireBrigade on TwitterSix fire engines and three ‘specialist appliances’ brought the fire under control this morning.
Emergency services were alerted to the fire at the school, near Mask Avenue in Coolock, at 6.10am.
The fire brigade used five pumps, a turntable ladder and an emergency tender - as well as a foam unit to bring it under control.
The windows blew out and the roof collapsed at one section of the school when the fire took hold.
Image via @DubFireBrigade on TwitterEducation Minister Joe McHugh said his department is working to come up with alternative arrangements for students.
“The junior school seems to be in an OK position but obviously we need to confirm that,” he said.
“Then one of the messages that we are getting is that there may be a locally-based solution in whatever that temporary capacity may be.”
In the early hours of this morning we were called to Scoil Chaitríona in Artane after reports of a fire. 6 fire engines & 3 specialist appliances attended with the fire under control by 0800 #Dublin #fire pic.twitter.com/R5qgZ4zfSW
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) October 16, 2019
These parents spoke to Newstalk at the site.
“It looks like it started upstairs so maybe it was technical fault,” said one. “I went to this school myself; it is just heartbreaking to look at.”
“You can see the roof is gone totally at the senior girls’ schools,” said another. “They will probably have to level it.”
Image via @DubFireBrigade on TwitterThis afternoon, the fire brigade said smoke had been reduced, but warned that people in the area who can smell smoke should close all their windows as a precaution.
Pictures show considerable damage to the building, while there were large plumes of smoke billowing from the school.
