Written answers

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Building Projects Status

Photo of Terence FlanaganTerence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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243. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update regarding his plans to build a permanent school in Belmayne, Dublin 13, for schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3547/14]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Major Building Project for the schools referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 2(a) - Developed Design. On the satisfactory completion of stage 2(a), and subject to no other issues arising, the project will progress to Stage 2(b) which includes applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certificate, Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of tender documents.

This project was included on the 5 year construction programme to proceed to tender and construction in 2014/15. The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the 2014 specific programme of 70 major projects to proceed to construction this year. The project for the school referred to by the Deputy was not sufficiently advanced to include it in that announcement.However, as 2014 progresses, all projects which remain scheduled to begin building in 2015 or 2016 will be assessed to see if they are ready to go to construction earlier than planned and if there is financial scope to do so.

In that context, when the stage 2(b) submission for this project has been received and assessed my Department will then be in touch with the school authorities regarding the potential progression of the project to tender and construction at that time

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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244. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school building project (details supplied) in County Meath. [3580/14]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department has recently acquired land which will facilitate the provision of accommodation for the new post primary school, referred to by the Deputy, to open in 2014. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is working closely with the relevant Local Authority in relation to a campus development which includes the school to which the Deputy has referred. Further land is being acquired in this regard. Due to commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further on the matter at this time.

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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245. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a project in County Galway to provide a new school; when the project is due to reach construction stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3581/14]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning, stage 2(a) - Developed Design. On the satisfactory completion of stage 2a, and subject to no other issues arising, the project will progress to Stage 2(b) which includes applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certificate, Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of tender documents.

Due to competing demands on the Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements it was not possible to include this project in the 5 year construction programme announced in March 2012.

School building projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, which were previously initiated but not included in the current five year construction programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to the Department in the future.

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