Asbestos still present in ‘60 schools’

DUP MLA Ian McCrea has expressed his concern at the number of schools with asbestos in their building.

He raised the issue with the Education Minister, requesting details on the schools in the Mid-Ulster area that currently have some form of asbestos in their buildings.

“Having raised the question with the Education Minister to find out how many schools have asbestos present, I could not help but be shocked to learn that over 60 of our schools still have the material present in their buildings,” he said.

Mr McCrea said it was a worrying statistic, especially given the dangers of the inhalation of asbestos fibres.

The politician also pointed out that up to 75 deaths per year in Northern Ireland have asbestosis and/or mesothelioma listed as the primary or secondary cause of death, according to the General Register Office,

“I do not want to raise alarm bells with parents, as asbestos poses little risk unless the material is disturbed and becomes airborne and the fibres are released into the atmosphere; but I feel it is incumbent for the Education Minister to remove and eradicate any material containing asbestos from our schools, as I feel that no risk is better than little risk,” he added.