Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley, this provides me with the opportunity to outline the current position on the problems experienced by Sancta Maria College in Rathfarnham, which the Deputy alluded to earlier this week. A major building project has been under way at the Sancta Maria College since 2015, which is delivering major refurbishment works and an extension to the college.

As part of this project, the heating in the system was upgraded to bring it to a modern standard and some further works were also done to ensure any outstanding snags in the heating system would be done in the summer break of 2020. The main contractor for the contract, L&M Keating, returned to the site after the national Covid-19 shutdown of construction sites but progress has been extremely slow since the resumption. The main contractor ceased work in early July and has not returned to the site since.

I am not sure if the Deputy is aware but in recent days, the main contractor has applied for examinership, which has been granted on an interim basis. I understand it will be confirmed at a hearing in the High Court on 12 October 2020. My Department's building unit is aware of the problem with the heating system in the school and was told at lunchtime on Tuesday, 6 October, when the school emailed, seeking approval to appoint an engineering contractor to resolve the issues. That afternoon, the board of management at the school was authorised to have all necessary works carried out by the engineering contractor. This work has, therefore, been authorised outside the existing main construction contract in order that we can ensure, as the Deputy stated, that the heating systems can be brought back to full working order as quickly as possible.

He will be glad to hear that the school principal has informed my Department that the work to the heating system is scheduled to commence tomorrow, which is Friday, 9 October. It is anticipated the work will be completed in time for the school to reopen on Monday, 12 October. I hope that is seen as good news by the Deputy. If he has further questions, we can liaise on them.

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