Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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197. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the stage at which a proposed building project in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Cavan is at; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the likely time frame for construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18098/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The project to provide permanent accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers is currently at Stage 2a (Developed Design) of the architectural planning process.

A tender exercise for a replacement Consultant Mechanical and Electrical Engineer has become necessary in order to complete the stage 2(a) design. This tender exercise is currently in progress and the closing date for receipt of tenders is the 12th May 2015.

When Stage 2a of the project is fully completed, and subject to no other issues arising, the project will progress to Stage 2b (Detailed Design). Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification have been obtained for this project. Stage 2(b) will also include the completion of tender documents.

Due to competing demands on my 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 have been 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 my Department in the future.