Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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140. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he had a contingency plan in place when a company (details supplied) went into examinership in January 2018; and if not, the reason therefor [28219/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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In April 2018 when the company referred to by the Deputy entered into the examinership, my Department worked closely with the ETB’s concerned to monitor closely the progress of projects during this period. As part of contingency planning arrangements, officials from my Department and the relevant ETBs met with the contractor and the examiner in mid-April to discuss their plans to deliver the outstanding school projects. While work was continuing on one project, work has ceased on three other projects and these contracts were terminated in early May.  The final contract was terminated upon the liquidation of the contractor in June 2018.

In the case of all projects, steps have been taken to put alternative arrangements in place and I have requested my officials to provide me with a critical path for the completion of the outstanding projects and to consider how each stage in that critical path can be delivered as quickly as possible while also ensuring that the quality and integrity of the project is fully protected. Etender notices have already been published seeking expressions of interest from contractors wishing to be considered for the completion of two of the projects and a further eTenders will be published later this week in respect of the third project. Identification of all outstanding works necessary to complete all schools is also on-going. This is the normal process followed when an insolvency event occurs. 

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will now take back full ownership of a building (details supplied). [28220/18]

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a more proactive approach was not taken regarding a campus (details supplied) in view of concerns that led to his Department instigating the Thorn investigation. [28221/18]

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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143. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide the facilities that the schools in Maynooth need before the new term in September 2018 and subsequent years while the community in Maynooth and its hinterlands are awaiting the school. [28222/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 to 143, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy is aware the delivery of the two schools in question has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) under a Service Level Agreement (SLA). In total, a SLA requires 18 interactions between my Department’s Planning and Building Unit and the relevant agency delivering the project during the lifetime of the project.  These interactions are specifically itemised in the SLA. Their purpose is to ensure that individual projects are delivered in accordance with the approved project brief, that both Department design guidelines and public procurement procedures are adhered to and that the project is delivered within the approved budget. 

As KWETB are the patron of both schools and own the site, the delivery of the two schools will remain with them. Since the liquidation of the contractor, KWETB, their design team and officials from my Department’s Planning and Building Unit have been working closely to ensure that a new contractor is appointed as quickly as possible to complete both schools. An eTender's notice has been forwarded to eTenders for publication seeking expressions of interest from contractors wishing to be considered for the completion of the project. The notice will be published later this week. Identification of all outstanding works necessary to complete both schools is also on-going.

My Department is also liaising with KWETB to ensure that both schools have the necessary accommodation to meet pupil needs pending the delivery of their new school buildings.