§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many asbestos leaks occurred in buildings owned or leased by(a) the Department of Education in Northern Ireland and (b) South Eastern Education and Library Board since 1973; where these leaks occurred; and how many people were exposed in each case. [89457]
§ Jane Kennedy(a) The Department of Education does not own or lease any buildings. Departmental staff occupy buildings at two locations, Rathgael House in Bangor and Waterside House in Londonderry. Both sites are owned or leased by the Department of Finance and Personnel, Office Accommodation Branch (OAB).
(b) I have been advised by the South Eastern Education and Library Board that it does not retain records on this issue dating back to 1973. Neither is it aware of any instances of asbestos leakage at any of its 582W schools. In addition to the leak at the board headquarters in September 2002, the details of which you are aware from my recent replies to you, the SEELB has advised that there have been three occasions involving disturbances of asbestos during the carrying out of maintenance work. These were at:
- Killyleagh Outdoor Education Centre in December 1999;
- Board Headquarters in September 2000; and
- Castlewellan Library in November 2001.
On none of these occasions were any staff or members of the public affected by asbestos.