Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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437. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when his Department will commence the urgently required work on the rebuilding of a school (details supplied), which is now more urgent in the context of the recent census data showing the continuing huge population growth in Dublin 15 and Dublin west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25475/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2b - Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of Tender Documents. All statutory approvals have been granted.

However, on January 1st 2016 there were 66 major projects under construction. Since the start of this year a total of 50 more major projects have been progressed to construction or are currently authorised to complete the tender process with a view to starting on site before the end of this year. That represents a total of 116 major projects either under construction or progressing to construction in 2016. These projects were authorised to proceed under previous Minister O'Sullivan, and this means that the existing contractual commitments for 2016 now fully account for the funding which was allocated for 2016 by the previous Minister and carry a significant contractual commitment into 2017.

This project is on the 2016-21 Construction Programme and my Department is fully committed to progressing the project to construction.

My Department officials will continue to closely monitor expenditure on existing contractual commitments over the coming months and, as funding allows, other projects, including the project for the school in question, will be considered for progression through the tender process with a view to starting on site as soon as possible.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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438. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when his Department will commence the rebuilding of schools (details supplied) in view of the census figures on population growth in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25476/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The major school building project to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b). All statutory approvals have been secured.

However, following the appointment of a replacement Mechanical & Electrical Engineer the Design Team, in association with the newly appointed Engineer, is working on a revised M&E report which will be submitted to the Department when it is completed. My Department will revert to the school with regard to the further progression of the project following consideration of that report.

It is not possible at this time to give a more indicative timeline for when construction is expected to commence.