Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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356. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the proposed special school for County Louth that will merge two schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15378/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, a project to provide permanent accommodation for the schools in question is included on my Department's Capital Programme.

Officials in my Department are liaising with officials in the relevant local authority in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable site to facilitate the building project. The proposed location for the schools, on the Cement Road in Drogheda, has been agreed and all parties are currently working to finalise the terms of this proposed acquisition and advance matters as quickly as possible.

Subsequent to the completion of the site acquisition process, subject to no issues arising, the project to deliver the new schools will progress into architectural planning. 

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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357. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the major building project at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15381/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - 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 obtained.

In May 2017, the Department gave approval to the school authorities to have their Design Team commence the process of Pre-Qualification of Contractors and the Department has been informed by the Design Team that this process is complete.

The Design Team has recently submitted a revised Stage 2(b) submission to my Department. Upon review of this submission and providing no issues arise, my Department will revert to the school with a timeframe for progression of the project to tender stage.

A tender stage normally takes between 7 and 8 months to complete. A letter recently issued from my Department to the school and its Design Team outlining the projected timeframe for progression of this project to tender and construction stage and the steps involved.