Written answers

Wednesday, 1 March 2017

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Building Projects Status

Photo of Gino KennyGino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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29. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the delay in the proposed extension and refurbishment of a school (details supplied) is seriously impeding the school's ability to increase its enrolment numbers to meet the growing educational demands in the Lucan area; if he will expedite stage 2A that has been with his Department's technical staff for review since 6 January 2017 in order that the school can quickly proceed to stage 2B of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10329/17]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware from my earlier answer to Deputy Curran of the background to this project. 

The stage 2(a) report is currently under review in my Department. Stage 2(a) is a critical stage in the progress of any project. It effectively sets the final design of the building to ensure a high quality of accommodation and to facilitate a smooth progression through the applications for planning permission, fire cert and disability access cert. All of these statutory approvals are required before the design team can progress to completing the tender documents.

My Department will have completed its review of the stage 2(a) report by mid-April and the project will then be authorised to progress to commence stage 2(b).

 In the interim, as this project is progressing, my Department has approved applications from the ETB to provide temporary accommodation on site to cater for the increasing enrolments in the school. My Department will continue to provide the appropriate levels of interim accommodation commensurate with the enrolments to Lucan Community College. In doing so, my Department is satisfied that there is no impediment to the school's ability to increase its enrolment numbers to meet demands in the Lucan area.

The brief for this project when complete will provide an extension/refurbishment to permanent modern accommodation to cater for 1,000 pupils and a 2 classroom Special Needs Unit on the existing school site.

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