Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ceist Scoil Chiaráin a ardú inniu. As the Deputy said, a major building project to provide new accommodation for the students of Scoil Chiaráin is included in the Department of Education’s construction programme being delivered under the National Development Plan, NDP, as part of Project Ireland 2040. The major building project for Scoil Chiaráin is being delivered under the Department of Education's accelerated delivery of architectural planning and tendering, ADAPT, programme. The ADAPT programme uses a professional external project manager to co-ordinate and drive the design team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of architectural planning, to tender and construction. While the original project brief was to deliver a new extension and refurbishment of the current school building, it was agreed, following a review by the design team to revise the project scope to deliver a new replacement school at the current site, in Glasnevin. The design team secured planning permission for the new school design stage in September 2021, which is the start of stage 2(b).

The current building dates from the late 1970s. The new building will provide purpose-built accommodation for students with special educational needs ranging in age from four to 18 years. It will comprise 20 mainstream classrooms, along with additional specialised rooms including art, home economics, woodwork, a library, GP room, a dining space, a sensory room, dedicated therapy rooms and all associated ancillary accommodation. The accommodation will take into consideration the specific needs of the students of Scoil Chiaráin.

The project is currently close to completion of stage 2(b) of the architectural design process. It involves detailed design and the preparation of tender documentation. The next stage, subject to relevant stage 2(b) approvals, will be tender stage, which is stage 3.

Projects are subject to relevant due diligence by the Department at each stage in the process, within the context of the overall programme and budgetary parameters. In late March, following a review of the national development plan, the Government and the Minister, Deputy Foley, approved medium-term capital allocations for the Department of Education for the period to 2026. The Department’s planning and building unit is now reviewing its programme plans in the context of those recently confirmed allocations. Special schools are a particular priority for the Department’s school building programme and I know, and the Minister knows, that the new building for Scoil Chiaráin will be transformative for the school community. Departmental officials will keep the school authorities updated on progress and on the next steps.

See this speech in context