Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's commitment to ensure commencement of this school project as soon as possible. It is possible to have the tendering process finalised before the end of the year. I understand the new guidelines will apply from 8 January. Will the Minister give a commitment that both he and his Department will work with the school which has over a period of ten years sought to bring the project to fruition to ensure the tender process will get over the line before the new complicated guidelines become applicable which it is feared could set the project back for a significant period? Will the Minister, through his departmental officials, assist the school board which has been trying might and main for years, including meeting many us late at night at meetings to advise us on the progress of the project, to achieve this end? They deserve that assistance. There is no point in the Minister engaging in tech-talk with me or others when that is the responsibility of his officials. Has he met the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to seek additional money for the capital programme in order that this project can proceed?

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