Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills an update on the new build for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40803/26]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I ask for an update on the new build for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire in the city centre.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The new build for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire is a large-scale capital project for the construction of a 16-classroom primary school in Dublin 1. The building project to complete the new build for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, Dominick Street, is at stage 3 of the architectural planning process - tender action and award. The Department can confirm that following a confidential conciliation process concerning all matters in dispute between the Department and the original contractor, the conciliator has now issued a formal recommendation for the resolution of those disputes, and that recommendation has now been accepted by both parties. Following the conclusion of the conciliation process, my Department has instructed the design team to ready a tender for the completion contract for the school in Dominick Street. This process is expected to take four to six weeks to publish the tender, with a view to having a contractor on-site in early quarter 4 of 2026.

It remains the Department’s priority to deliver a new school building for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire as quickly as possible. Departmental officials will continue to work closely with the school authority.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that information. The status of Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire was a very significant issue in the recent by-election. When I was out canvassing with my colleague, Councillor Janet Horner, it was coming up at many doors.

As the Minister knows, the works were suspended in May 2025 by the Department, which was in dispute with the contractor. There was a conciliation process and the school moved to its current temporary site in December 2025. The Minister has made the point that we now have the recommendation. The fact that a recommendation was made by the conciliator was conveyed to the board of management and, in turn, it went on to convey that to the parents. The Minister has provided some further useful information today. However, the fact is that the parents have not had a clear update since March of this year. It would be useful if the Department could write clearly to the board of management and ask it to convey the information it has just given to me. I will put this up on social media, which is fine, but they should hear officially what the status of this project is right now.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy said, the design team has been instructed by the Department to ready the tender for the completed contract. It will take four to six weeks to publish the tender, with a view to having the contractor on-site in quarter 4 of this year. Each stage of the process is subject to due diligence by the Department within the context of the overall programme and budgetary parameters. However, it remains the Department's priority to deliver a new school building for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire as quickly as possible.

Departmental officials will continue to work closely with the school authorities and will meet with them on a regular basis.

As the Deputy said, a number of issues arose on site and the Department actively engaged with the design team and the contractor to discuss matters. Those unforeseen matters led to a delay in the project and, as a result, the Department entered into a conciliation hearing to try to reach agreement on a solution to ensure the earliest possible delivery of the school, while respecting its statutory obligations.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the detailed information but I come back to the point about communication. That information needs to be communicated to the school management team and board of management, and it needs to be clear to them that they can share that information with parents. This has been a very difficult situation. In fairness to the Department, a lot of work has been done but there are no clear lines of communication for getting that information to the parents. I ask the Minister again to ask her officials to communicate with the board and the principal. Sometimes, principals in a difficult position like this are worried about sharing information when confidential discussions are going on. It is important that they know they can share this information with parents.

The students are in a temporary premises on Cathal Brugha Street at the moment. Obviously, the build is going to take longer now but it will, hopefully, recommence in quarter 4 of this year. Do the students have permission to stay in their current temporary accommodation until the build is finalised? Is that certain?

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We can contact the school in relation to this but it is important to say that, in accordance with standard practice and contractual requirements, the conciliation process is of a confidential nature and, therefore, it was not appropriate to comment on the process. The conciliator has issued a formal recommendation for the resolution of the disputes and that recommendation has now been accepted by both parties.

The Department is providing accommodation more suitable to the current needs of the school on Cathal Brugha Street. Some small-scale refurbishment works at the building were carried out to provide a good interim accommodation solution for the school. These include teaching and learning spaces for the classes, education supports and sensory spaces, adequate meeting and office spaces, a staff room, a communal area and access to a safe outdoor space for the students. The school moved into those premises in December of 2025.

I will ask departmental officials to engage directly with the Deputy on his last question.