Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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244. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a decision was made in relation to a school construction project (details supplied) to change the plan from a 2 phase to a 1 stage project; the reason the project is only now being devolved to the education and training board since the decision to have a single construction project was made in the last quarter of 2016; the progress made since then; the costs incurred in relation to phase 1; when it is expected that the project will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23335/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that a project was approved in March 2015 to deliver significant additional accommodation at the school referred to. This devolved project was the first stage of a phased response to address the accommodation requirements at the school. A further project was included in my Department’s 6 year Capital Programme, to address the school’s accommodation requirements.

As the devolved project did not progress as anticipated my Department reviewed the matter and concluded that it was more appropriate to meet the identified needs by way of a major project; deliver a new 32 classroom replacement school by means of a single construction contract, in two phases, to allow for the continued operation of the school during the construction phase.

The project is being devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). A Service Level Agreement between the ETB and my Department will underpin the project delivery – this process is ongoing at present. Once this formality has been completed, the next steps are for the ETB to appoint a Design Team to design the project and to bring it through the planning permission and tender and construction stages. It will be a matter for the ETB to progress all aspects of the project, including the appointment of a Design Team, as quickly as possible.