Written answers

Tuesday, 13 October 2015

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Building Projects Status

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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384. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school building (details supplied) in County Kildare; if this will be included in the forthcoming five-year plan-capital building programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35415/15]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the building project to host the proposed amalgamation of the schools to which he refers is at an early stage of the architectural planning process. The Pre Stage 1 meeting was held in November 2014 and the Department requested a number of points be addressed as part of the Stage 1 report. An Addendum to the Stage 1 report was furnished to the Department by the Board of Management and Design Team on the 18th August last and the project has now been authorised to progress to Stage 2(a), which is the developed sketch design stage.

Upon successful completion of Stage 2(a) and subject to no issues arising, this project will be authorised to proceed to Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design Stage, which includes applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification and the preparation of tender documents.

School building projects, including the project in question, which have not been included in the current five year construction programme, are being progressed to the final planning stages and are available to be considered in the context of the new 6 Year Construction Plan that I intend to announce in the coming weeks.

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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385. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school building (details supplied) in County Kildare; if this will be included in the forthcoming five-year plan-capital building programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35416/15]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The school building project referred to by the Deputy is included on the current 5 year construction programme announced in 2012. It is listed on the programme to proceed to tender and construction in 2015/16.

The project is at an early stage of Architectural Planning. Following the Pre Stage 1 meeting in February 2015, the project was authorised to progress to Stage 2A, which is the developed sketch design stage. The Stage 2A meeting was held in June 2015 and the Design Team was requested to complete and submit the Stage 2A report. This report was received in my Department on the 25th September and is currently under review.

Upon successful completion of stage 2A and subject to no issues arising, this project will then be authorised to proceed to Stage 2B - Detailed Design Stage, which includes applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification and the preparation of tender documents.

Photo of Paul ConnaughtonPaul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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386. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the conveyancing process regarding a school building (details supplied) in County Galway has been concluded; if not, when it is envisaged this process will conclude; when it is planned to commence work on the new school building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35424/15]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, due diligence must apply in relation to any site acquisition.

With regard to the proposed site for the school referred to by the Deputy, the conveyancing process is at an advanced stage. Due to commercial sensitivities it is not possible to provide further details but the relevant matters are being progressed.

In the interim period the Department has progressed plans for the delivery of the school building. Planning permission has been obtained and assuming no further issues arise, the Department expects to be in a position to advance the project to construction once the conveyancing process has been satisfactorily concluded.

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