Crumbly concrete not used in Irish housing

The Department of Housing is the latest government body to say it is unaware of any potentially dangerous concrete having been used in the construction of Irish homes.

A spokesperson for the department told the Cork Independent that issues relating to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in buildings in Ireland have not been brought to the attention of the department’s Building Standards Advisory Unit.

The statement comes in the wake of major controversy in England where RAAC, which is linked with the collapse of a school’s roof in Kent in 2018, has been found in over 100 schools, forcing the closure of many classrooms across the country.

RAAC is a lightweight type of concrete with just a 30 year lifespan due to its susceptibility to structural failure when exposed to moisture.

It is understood the material was used in the construction of certain public buildings in the UK between 1950 and 1990. It is now feared that the material may have been used in other British public buildings besides schools.

Since the news broke in England, councils in Scotland have announced that at least 33 schools have been found to contain RAAC in the country.

With Ireland being the UK's closest neighbour, concerns have now been raised that RAAC may have been used in Irish buildings during the same period.

Earlier this week, Ireland’s Department of Education said it was unaware of any use of RAAC in the construction of schools in the Republic of Ireland.

A department spokesperson said: “The Department is not currently aware of RAAC being used in schools here.

“Some wider contacts with industry and The Irish Concrete Society have also indicated to the department that they have no knowledge of the use of this material in Ireland.”