Education Minister Randy Horton angrily denounced an Opposition Minister who suggested mould had re-emerged at CedarBridge Academy.

The comments were made during a debate on the education budget, in which the total cost of cleaning up last year’s environmental problems at CedarBridge was put at $3.8 million.

The operation was sparked after the school suddenly closed its doors on November 1 due to reports of sickness among staff.

Students were sent to the old Berkeley Institute site for lessons in the run up to Christmas while classrooms were disinfected. They returned in January.

A probe into the problems was launched by Government, with a report currently awaited.

Speaking during the debate on the cost of the clean-up, Shadow Education Minister Neville Darrell said he had been “reliably informed” there had been a re-infestation of mould at the school. He inquired whether the work had been covered by a warranty.

Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson then echoed his allegation that the mould had returned — causing Mr. Horton to jump to his feet to refute this. “This honourable member does not know, and is speaking really without any truth. She does it all the time,” he said.

Chair of the debate Walter Lister said he would not allow the Opposition to continue making what he described as “an allegation” that the problem had re-occurred.