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

The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is now at an advanced stage of architectural planning. All statutory approvals have been obtained, tender documents have been prepared and the stage 2b submission has been approved by my Department.

I met the school's representatives with the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar and Deputies Joan Burton and Jack Chambers last Wednesday. The school outlined its concerns with regard to the building project and gave me a comprehensive description of the difficulties presented by the current accommodation in the school. I explained the current funding situation and assured the school that this building project is a priority for me when funding is available to allow it to proceed to tender and construction. However, the Deputy will be aware from my answers to previous parliamentary questions that there are a large number of projects authorised to proceed to construction. At the time the latest batch of these were authorised to proceed, St. Mochta's was not in a position to proceed to tender.

The existing contractual commitments fully account for the funding which was allocated for 2016 under the previous Minister. However, the school is on the programme and is a priority and my Department will continue to closely monitor expenditure on the existing contractual commitments over the coming months and, as funding allows, other projects, including the project for the school in question, will be considered for progression through the tender process with a view to starting on site as soon as possible.

There were a number of issues at the meeting we had the other day and my officials met outside the meeting to resolve any remaining issues relating to fees. There is a very active engagement between my Department and the school authorities and we are doing everything to make sure there will be no unnecessary delay. The issue is that I have to be assured the funding can be there to meet the release to tender. That is why the examination of expending commitments is so important. If other funding sources emerge, particularly from the budget, it will put me in a position to deal with some of the issues.

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