Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Táim anseo ar son an Aire Oideachais, an Teachta Foley. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the major building project that will be undertaken at Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin.

A major building project to provide new suitable accommodation for Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin is included in the Department's construction programme, which is being delivered under the national development plan as part of Project Ireland 2040. As the Deputy said, this project will be delivered under the Department's ADAPT programme. The programme uses a professional external project manager to co-ordinate and drive the design team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of architectural planning, to tender and construction.

The brief for this project is the development of a 16-classroom Gaelscoil with an additional two classrooms for pupils with special educational needs at the current site. As per the brief formulation document supplied to the incoming design team, the option of an extension to or refurbishment of the existing building and the alternative of a new school building and the demolition of the existing one will be fully considered by the school and its design team at stage 1 of the architectural planning process.

The tender competition to appoint the design team for this major project has recently concluded. An initial briefing meeting between the project manager, design team, departmental officials and school authorities was held last Friday, 26 May. During the meeting, the project manager outlined the ADAPT process to the newly appointed design team and the school authorities. As part of its stage 1 initial development, the design team will arrange a follow-up meeting at the school site in the near future.

Stage 1 of architectural planning - site investigation includes investigations of the condition of the existing school buildings, site suitability and the initial sketch scheme, detailing all preferred options for the development of the school's accommodation, including demolition and new build, if feasible. As the Deputy outlined, the school currently occupies a two-storey building constructed during the 1950s on its site at Glasanaon Road and the building fabric and finishes are typical of a building of that type and age. Under the Department's emergency works scheme, refurbishment works to the boys' toilet areas were carried out in 2021 and a tender report for works to the girls' toilet areas is awaited.

The Department recently approved funding to provide interim accommodation on the school site to facilitate the establishment of a special class for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years. The school was granted approval under the modular 2022 scheme for the rental of one classroom in November 2022. The Department is aware that additional works are required in respect of this classroom and a solution is being developed.

I am pleased to advise on behalf of the Minister that approval has issued for the provision of a second SEN classroom at the school and has been referred under the additional schools accommodation scheme. This will be delivered under the Department's devolved SEN reconfiguration and modular accommodation programme. This approach supports accelerated delivery of the accommodation, maximising assistance to the school for this brief. The project will be delivered from the Department's procurement frameworks.

A project management company has been appointed from the Department's framework to design and tender the project. The consultant will lead the project through the various stages of planning process and construction. The school authority has overall responsibility for delivery of the project. The Department is waiting on the school to return the completed form of acceptance.

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