The Government could be facing a bill of almost £13.5 million for urgent remedial work to rid primary and second-level schools of asbestos. According to documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, the problem of asbestos - which can cause cancer if inhaled - in schools is "quite substantial" and an extensive programme of works "will have to be embarked upon as a matter of urgency".
The cost of detection and removal of asbestos to the Department of Education and Science so far is £1 million. Part of this is accounted for by a survey of schools being undertaken by the Office of Public Works.
Mr Frank Wyse, a principal officer in the planning and building unit of the Department of Education, states in the documents that between 750 and 900 primary schools need to be "attended to". At second level, Mr Wyse estimates that 481 buildings are in need of remedial work.
"Accordingly, the estimated total cost of remediation measures in all primary schools likely to be affected is between £8.9 million and £10.7 million", Mr Wyse states. "The total estimate for all post-primary schools is £2.73 million."
Mr Wyse says that he is basing his estimates on an initial survey undertaken in the south-east, where 30 per cent of schools had asbestos in some form in their buildings. On funding, he states: "Regardless of any other commitments in terms of finance or other resources, this issue will have to be dealt with as an absolute priority."
The documents repeatedly emphasise that the Department should approach the matter with "sensitivity" and not risk alarming children and parents.