Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This building project was identified from the outset as a two-stage process. The Department has requirements in respect of architectural planning, planning permission, the design of school buildings to meet planning needs and drawing up the detailed design before going to tender. Anyone embarking on a building project would do likewise. Planning permission for the building in question was obtained in March. The Department requires this work to be done by the design team. I cannot come to the Chamber and account for approval of the necessary surveying of quantities or for whether the site is suitable, or any of the other elements that must be satisfied at an architectural level. This process to be completed is uniform and applies to every school building project in the country. There is no attempt to throw a spanner in the works for Lusk Community College.

The Deputy is correct that the Department is making provision for rented temporary accommodation to accommodate approximately 170 pupils. While the planning process is under way, we will provide support for the renting of temporary accommodation. The project is included in the plan and the process is under way. While budgets remain a constraint on everything we would like to do, we are prioritising the needs of children in areas where there is a shortage of school places. Areas with demographic pressures receive top priority in the Department.

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