Written answers
Tuesday, 13 October 2015
Department of Education and Skills
Schools Building Projects Status
Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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406. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a longstanding application for accommodation for a new school (details supplied) in County Longford will be approved, as the current accommodation is not adequate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35756/15]
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning - Stage 2b (Detailed Design) which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert, Disability Access Cert and the preparation of Tender Documents. All statutory approvals have been secured.
The Stage 2b submission has been reviewed by my Department and the Design Team have been requested to submit final confirmations that they are satisfied that the Tender Documents are complete, correct and in compliance with the requirements of the Departments Guidelines and the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations (BC(A)R) 2014.
However, 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 to which the Deputy refers, which have been initiated but not included in the current five year construction programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages and will therefore be well placed for consideration for inclusion in future construction programmes.
Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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407. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills given that the project to extend and refurbish Lucan Community College in County Dublin is included in the current five-year construction programme, and has a target opening date of September 2018, and given that Lucan is one of the fastest growing residential areas in the country, and is in urgent need of secondary school places, if she will ensure that there is no further impediment in authorising the progress of the project to stage 2A; if she will expedite the preparation and submission of the planning application preferably before, but no later than, spring 2016; if she will confirm that the target opening date of September 2018 will be met; if she will accommodate the attendance of a staff representative at future meetings between her Department and Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board regarding the progress of this project in order that the board of management and parents can become fully aware of all progress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35758/15]
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The school building project referred to by the Deputy is included in the Five Year Construction Programme to proceed to Tender and Construction. The school building project is at an early stage of the Architectural Planning process.
Earlier this year, the Department met with officials from the ETB regarding progression of the project. Following this meeting, further information was requested from the ETB and its Design Team. My Department has completed its review of this information and the project is now proceeding to complete Stage 2A of Architectural Planning, which is the Developed Design Stage. Upon successful completion of Stage 2A the project will progress to complete Stage 2B - Detailed Design, which involves obtaining planning permission, fire certificate and disability access certificate and the completion of tender documents. Following completion of Stage 2B the project will be progressed to tender and construction stages.
However, until such time as planning permission has been secured and the project has progressed to and completed tender stage and the appointment of a building contractor, it will not be possible to provide an indicative timeframe for the completion of the construction stage of the project.
It is a matter for Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB to determine if a staff or school authority representative may attend meetings with officials in my Department in relation to this school building project.
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