Materials used to build the new Greystones Community National School have passed fire safety tests, Western Building Systems has confirmed.
The next and potentially final meeting in the conciliation process is expected to take place next Tuesday, March 16.
WBS chief executive Martin McCloskey said the latest test, which was carried out this week by an independent expert nominated by the Department of Education and Skills, performed at almost double the required standard and proved conclusively there was no need to have denied pupils and teachers occupation of the new school premises.
Tests were conducted as part of a conciliation process between the Department of Education and developers WBS.
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The number of students without school places in the Greystones area is substantially higher than principal of Greystones Community College Ruairí Farrell had anticipated or calculated , he said.
However, the principal has confidence that the estimated 170 to 190 local children currently without secondary school places can be accommodated in the area as the department liaises with all schools to increase capacity. Greystones Community College is willing to increase its enrolment subject to the provision of satisfactory accommodation by the Department of Education to cater for the increased demand at the school, said Mr Farrell.
Wicklow County Council has granted permission to the Department of Education to build six prefab secondary school classrooms at Greystones Rugby Club. The intention is that the classrooms be used by Greystones Community College as they await their permanent building. The school is currently located at Greystones Tennis Club.
Conciliation got under way last Friday in an attempt to resolve issues preventing the handover of the new Greystones Community National School building.
The process is expected to take anything from three to six months. At the outset, the first meeting set out the parameters of the process.
The school building was to be occupied in September 2020, but the Department of Education has not accepted handover.
It says that the building has failed a fire safety test. Developers Western Building Systems have refuted that claim, and provided its own safety evidence.
Greystones Community National School (GCNS) is currently still located in temporary accommodation at Greystones Rugby Club.