Written answers

Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Department of Education and Skills

School Accommodation

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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553. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address the child protection and financial concerns outlined in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12703/15]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers submitted a major application for a new school building in November 2013. The current status of all applications, including for the school in question, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie

To facilitate the provision of a new school for the school in question a greenfield site will be required. In that regard, my Department has recently initiated the process of identifying a site for the school concerned.

I am also aware that the school concerned, in support of its application for new accommodation, referred to possible child protection issues and financial concerns. My Department intends to make contact with the school shortly in relation to these matters.

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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554. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will prioritise the extension of a school (details supplied) in County Dublin, and make funding available immediately to ensure the extension can be carried out in an effort to ensure the provision of secondary school places in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12705/15]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The building project referred to by the Deputy is included in the Five Year Construction Programme to proceed to Tender and Construction.

The original design team appointed to the project had reached completion of Stage 1 of Architectural Planning. As part of that work and following an assessment of the current accommodation, it was agreed by the Department that extensive additional refurbishment works to the existing school would also be required.

The Department approved a significant increase in the scope of works for the project to incorporate those refurbishment works. Arising from this expansion in the scope of works it was necessary to commence a tender exercise for the appointment of a new design team to take the project forward from this point. This process, which was conducted by the ETB, has been completed and the new Design Team have been authorised to proceed to Stage 2A of Architectural Planning - Developed Design. Upon successful completion of Stage 2A the project will then progress to complete Stage 2B - Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of Tender Documents for Contractors. Following completion of stage 2(b) the project will then be progressed to tender and construction. The Department met with representatives of the ETB earlier this month regarding progression of the project.

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