Many public buildings have the same staircase

THE TYPE of staircase at the centre of yesterday's museum accident is fitted in dozens of the Government's public buildings, including Leinster House.

Stress-testing was recently carried out on the same type of staircase in Castletown House in Co Kildare in advance of the heritage property being opened to the public in two weeks.

Contractors for the Office of Public Works carried out successful tests on the Castletown staircase to ensure it would take the weight of visitors.

Pressure is likely to mount for a full safety audit on all the other stone cantilevered staircases in public buildings.

The cantilevered staircase involves a single stairway going up to a landing. The staircase then separates into two staircases, left and right, which continue upwards in the opposite direction.

A spokesman for the OPW said yesterday that such staircases were in "many government buildings."

According to the OPW spokesman, the fact that such staircases are commonplace in government buidings dating back to the period in question did not mean that they were unsafe.

A full investigation will be carried out by the state agency.

TREACY HOGAN
Irish Independent