Asbestos shock - Potentially deadly fibre found in 80-plus NW schools
Children across the North West - some aged as young as three - are attending classes in school buildings that contain cancer-causing asbestos.
Across Derry, Limavady and Strabane, more than 80 school buildings - including nursery, primary and secondary schools - have been found to contain asbestos fibre.
Asbestos, commonly used as a building material from the 1950s through to the 1980s, can cause a range of diseases, including potentially fatal asbestosis and lung cancer, if it’s disturbed and its particles become airborne.
The Department of Education has moved to assure the public that, left undisturbed, asbestos poses little threat.
“Government policy is that provided asbestos is in good condition and is unlikely to be disturbed, so it is better to manage it for the remaining life of a school rather than to disturb it,” a spokeswoman said.
The shocking extent of the presence of asbestos in schools right across the north was revealed in response to a question asked in the Stormont Assembly by SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone.
In Derry asbestos is currently present in 50 school buildings, including Carnhill Nursery, Rosemount Primary, Ebrington Primary, the Model, Immaculate Conception College and St Peter’s High School.
In Strabane asbestos is found in 14 schools while in Limavadyw the fibre is found in 20 school buildings.
Crocidolite or blue asbestos, the most dangerous form of the fibre, is not present in any north west schools.
The Department of Education spokeswoman continued: “The Department takes the matter of Health and Safety in schools very seriously and is acutely aware of the potential risk posed by asbestos containing materials for staff and pupils of educational establishments.
“The education sectors, in line with current legislation and policy, manage the presence of asbestos containing materials in the schools’ estate.”
She said should deterioration of asbestos containing materials occur, “then they should be removed, repaired or encapsulated by a licensed asbestos company”.
Last month it was revealed that across the north almost 900 schools were found to contain asbestos.
The full list of schools of north west schools is below:
Ballycolman Nursery School
Belmont Nursery School
Bligh’s Lane Nursery School
Carnhill Nursery School
Galliagh Nursery School
Strathfoyle Nursery School
Trench Road Nursery School
Altishane Primary School
Artigarvan Primary School
Ashlea Primary School
Ballougry Primary School
Ballykelly Primary School
Barrack Street Boys’ Primary School
Bellarena Primary School
Broadbridge Primary School
Bunscoil Cholmcille Primary School
Chapel Road Primary School
Craigbrack Primary School
Culmore Primary School
Cumber Claudy Primary School
Donemana Primary School
Drumachose Primary School
Drumahoe Primary School
Ebrington Primary School
Eglinton Primary School
Evish Primary School
Faughanvale Primary School
Fountain Primary School
Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir Primary School
Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh Primary School
Glendermott Primary School
Good Shepherd Primary School
Greenhaw Primary School
Groarty Primary School
Hollybush Primary School
Holy Child Primary School
Holy Family Primary School
Limavady Central Primary School
Listress Primary School
Londonderry Model Primary School
Longtower Primary School
Loughash Primary School
Mullabuoy Primary School
Nazareth House Primary School
Newbuildings Primary School
Rosemount Primary School
Sacred Heart Primary School, Trench Road
Sion Mills Primary School
St Finlough’s Primary School (Sistrakeel)
St Aidan’s Primary School, Magilligan
St Anne’s Primary School
St Anne’s Primary School
St Anthony’s Primary School
St Brigid’s Primary School
St Canice’s Primary School
St Canice’s Primary School
St Colmcille’s Primary School
St Columba’s Primary School
St Columba’s Primary School
St Eithne’s Primary School
St Eugene’s Primary School
St Eugene’s Primary School, Knocks
St John’s Primary School, Dernaflaw
St Joseph’s Primary School, Donagh
St Mary’s Primary School, Altinure
St Mary’s Primary School, Cloughcor
St Mary’s Primary School, Gortnaghey
St Mary’s PS (previously St Mary’s Boys’ PS, Strabane)
St Mary’s PS (previously St Mary’s Girls’ PS, Strabane)
St Matthew’s Primary School, Drumsurn
St Oliver Plunkett Primary School, Strathfoyle
St Patrick’s Primary School
St Paul’s Primary School, Slievemore
St Peter’s Primary School
St Peter’s & St Paul’s Primary School
St Therese Primary School, Leanmore
Steelstown Primary School
Strabane Primary School
Termoncanice Primary School
Belmont House Special School
Foyle View Special School
Rossmar Special School
Immaculate Conception College
Limavady High School
St Mary’s High School
St Patrick’s College
St Patrick’s & St Brigid’s College
St Peter’s High School
Strabane Academy – (Derry Road Site)
Strabane Academy – (Liskey Road Site)
Limavady Grammar
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Saturday 18 May 2013
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