The Dáil has been told that it took fire fighters longer to tackle a major blaze at a north Dublin school yesterday because of low water pressure in the area.

Hundreds of students have been left without classrooms after the fire at Scoil Chaitríona in Coolock yesterday morning.

No-one was injured; however, the building was badly damaged after the blaze took hold.

In the Dáil, Dublin Bay North TD Seán Haughey said the fire brigade managed to save large parts of the building – but warned that their efforts were hampered.

“The efforts of the fire brigade were delayed due to a problem with poor water pressure in the area,” he said.

“Yesterday, I met a resident who told me that the fire hydrant outside his house was not working and was, in fact, full of concrete.”

Image: Dublin Fire Brigade

A section of the building was gutted after the roof collapsed and windows were blown out.

Officials met today to discuss plans for accommodating the students elsewhere until the school can be rebuilt.

Both the junior and senior schools will remain closed for the rest of the week.

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

A section of the school is expected to re-open next week; however the Department of Education is examining a range of options for students whose classrooms were destroyed.

Education Minister Joe McHugh said prefabs are among the options being considered.

“We are looking at all options in relation to temporary provision prior to the school being re-built again,” he said.

“That will look at all options from prefabs to spare capacity in local schools.

“Everything is on the table; I don’t want to highlight one over the other.”

The Department of Education said parents will be informed as soon as alternative arrangements have been put in place.

Meanwhile, Gardaí are investigating the cause of the fire.