Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have set out the timeline. As of yesterday, there is nothing to suggest there are any issues with the work under way between the design team, the school and my Department, which means, I believe, that come September, we will be able to issue the tender. From speaking to some of the teachers when I visited the school a few weeks ago, I know that is the biggest concern. They have got to certain points and it has gone backwards. We need to make sure that once we get to the tender stage come September, nothing stops it progressing and once that is awarded, works can start as quickly as possible.

From other projects that have progressed recently, the tender process will take a couple of months. Once a builder is appointed, it often takes a bit of time to get everything in play and up and running, but I would expect that at the latest, all going according to plan, by the end of Q1 or, if not, early Q2, works should be able to start. As I said, as of yesterday, there was nothing to suggest there is anything preventing that from happening.

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