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

Each stage in the process has to be gone through and I do not control the duration of those. It is expected that by the end of March to mid-April the Department will have completed its review of the stage 2A documents. However, as the reply explains, it then has to submit a planning application, get planning permission, a fire certificate and a disability access certificate, and complete tender documents. I cannot indicate how long it will take to get planning permission, whether there will be snags or appeals. All those things could lead to delays. If the local authority imposed a planning requirement that had not been anticipated in the design, it would have to be reviewed.

I cannot give an accurate estimate of how long that would take. Obviously, if it gets through stage 2B, it is then in a position to commence tendering which is a whole process in itself after which it goes to construction. Unfortunately, as I know from experience, there can be delays in a project like this at any of those points, including at planning stage. There can also be issues with tender documents. I cannot give a clear line of sight.

We are building schools providing 20,000 new school places every year. We try to ensure we prioritise our work so that we have a continuous flow. No shilling ever gets unspent in our Department. We always have projects like this. As it gets through we will be in a position to prioritise it for funding. It is a supply line and I do not control the speed with which the supply moves along. I can fully understand the Deputy's concern. As I outlined in the earlier reply, the history has been a chequered one. People have been frustrated and have had to make adaptations and changes. It leads to the sort of correspondence the Deputy has received.

See this speech in context