Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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229. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 174 of 12 April 2017, the status of the provision of new accommodation at a school (details supplied); when he expects the project to go to construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4177/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme. 

Primarily, the purpose of the building project is to provide additional accommodation as well as the replacement of current temporary accommodation to address a projected increase in school enrolments. In addition, the project will provide special needs accommodation and refurbishment of the current school building facilities.  The overall extension will in effect almost double the existing school accommodation.

The development of the school brief must have regard to the continuance of the existing school whilst construction of the extension is underway. Due to the complexities of the existing school site, issues to be considered in the development of the project brief included identifying the preferred location of the extension (having regard to a challenging site), decanting considerations, close residential context and construction traffic access.

This technical assessment process has been completed and the Project Brief is now being finalised. In that connection, the Department will be in further contact with the school in relation to the next steps to be taken to initiate the architectural planning process for the project.