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

I thank Senator Reilly for raising this matter, which is about the second phase of accommodation for Lusk. As stated by Senator Reilly, the first phase was completed some years ago. This project will provide permanent accommodation to cater for the full projected enrolment of 1,000 pupils, including a special needs unit, a sports hall with a fitness suite and changing facilities and ancillary accommodation, and a school library.

The project is included in the six-year programme announced by my predecessor on 17 November 2015 to go to tender, with construction scheduled to commence in 2018. Notwithstanding that scheduled construction date, my Department approved the project to proceed to tender stage in October 2016, with the intention of completing the much-needed phase 2 accommodation as early as possible. The pre-qualification of contractors for this project had first been conducted by the design team in April 2015. Owing to the passage of time since then, the design team was concerned about the possibility of legal challenges at tender stage and sought advice from the Office of Government Procurement on the matter.The advice was that it would be prudent to run the pre-qualification process again. My Department concurred with this advice and requested the design team to conduct a second pre-qualification process.

The Senator is correct in pointing out that I informed the Dáil on 18 January that "Subject to no issues arising, it is anticipated that construction will commence in the summer of 2017 and the project is scheduled to take approximately 18 months to complete." That was, however, based on the advice of my officials at the time and was, in turn, based on the information available on that date. Issues did subsequently arise in the pre-qualification process but these have now been resolved. I am pleased to inform the Senator that the pre-qualification process was concluded earlier this month and invitations to tender issued to six qualified contractors on 9 June 2017. Subject to no further issues arising, it is anticipated that construction will commence in late 2017 and the project is, as previously advised, expected to take approximately 18 months to complete.

I can fully understand the frustration of parents but I am aware, from experience, that if prudent steps are not taken to ensure the supply chain is properly tested before one commits, then projects can go off the rails. The prudence of the design team in taking these steps has prevented this project from being challenged further down the road. A prudent approach was taken and I understand the frustration people experience when they see the potential opening date being pushed back as a result of this approach. However, we must work on the best legal advice available to us. If the Office of Government Procurement is indicating that this is the approach to take, then it is the correct approach.

I am open, of course, to meeting the Senator. Other public representatives, including Deputy Farrell, have contacted me about the possibility of meeting. If Deputies and Senators want such a meeting, I am happy to agree to that. The project still must go through the process and tenders are now being invited. I will not be influencing the selection of tenders or any of that. It must be done in a wholly professional way by the Department. I am content that although there was an interruption, which was unfortunate to the progress of the project from when we first sought to move it faster, I believe this difficulty has been overcome and that the project is back on track from our point of view.