THE COST of repairing the damage to the Apex Swimming Pool and Leisure Complex in New Ross will be in excess of €500,000.

An investigation into a section of roof giving way at the complex on February 12 has found that the failure of brackets was the likely cause of the incident.

The brackets formed part of the interconnecting system between the various elements of the roof and once they failed a domino affect began at the front of the building and from there travelled lengthways resulting in the entire metal sheeting lifting and separating from the main roof supports.

The facility was occupied at the time and there were people in the pool but thankfully no-one was injured.

A source close to the investigation has told The Echo that the cost of repairing the building will be in excess of €500,000.

However, New Ross Town Council confirmed previously to this newspaper that the cost will be covered by insurance.

The facility was immediately closed to the public following the roof failure and an investigation launched to find out the cause. The state-of-the-art facility hadn’t even been officially opened when the incident occurred.

The investigation, on behalf of New Ross Town Council and New Ross Sport & Leisure Ltd., the company set up by the local authority to run the Apex, was carried out by Merit Consulting.

Commenting on the report to The Echo, Town Manager, Eamonn Hore, said the roof of the facility is designed like a sandwich: “The Apex roof construction is like a sandwich with the main structural beams inside [being] above the pool area. The outside metal sheeting forms the slices and a combination of brackets, rails, screws and rivets in between forms the ‘filling’.”

Mr. Hore said that aspect of the roof, between the inside beams and outside sheeting, proved inadequate to hold the roof in place during the high winds experienced on the day of the failure.

“The most significant problem identified was with the system of brackets and connections,” said Mr. Hore.

“Once these bracket systems failed there was a domino effect starting at the front of the building, travelling lengthways, causing the entire metal sheeting to lift and separate from the main roof supports”.

Describing the investigation report as a comprehensive document Mr. Hore, who is also a Board member of New Ross Sport & Leisure Ltd., said it clearly establishes the reasons for the failure and provides definitive solutions to rectify the problems identified.

“This is a comprehensive report produced by leading experts in the field of roof failure,” said Mr. Hore.

When asked about the clarity of the report and whether or not it clearly indentifies the cause of the problem he said: “There is no ambiguity or vagueness. Therefore, when the new roof is put in place, with the corrections and new materials as set out in the report, the building will be 100 per cent secure.”

He added there was no doubt the Apex, once reopened, will continue to play an important role in the social, health  education and tourism aspects of New Ross.

(For full story see this week’s print edition of the New Ross Echo)