Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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241. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (details supplied); the additional progress that has been made since the matter was last raised with his Department; the timeline for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29698/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 1 of the Architectural Planning Process which is the Preliminary Design Stage where the Design Team in conjunction with the school authority will analyse all the constraints of the site, develop a preferred design option and ensure that the preferred option is the best option for the delivery of the brief.

The Design Team has recently submitted a report which is being examined by my Department's Professional and Technical staff. A meeting date will be scheduled as soon as possible at which the Design Team will present its design proposals to the Department and the school will also attend.

On satisfactory completion of Stage 1 the project can be approved to progress through the remaining stages of architectural planning which includes detailed design, the planning application and other statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. This project was announced on the Minister's 6 year programme to go to construction 2019 - 2021.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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242. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Donegal; when the project will proceed to construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29699/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents.

The school and its design team was authorised to commence the prequalification process to select a shortlist of contractors for tender stage on 18th June 2018. Pre-qualification normally takes between 8 and 12 weeks to complete.

When pre-qualification is complete the project will then be progressed to tender stage. A tender stage normally takes between 7 and 8 months to complete. In that context, this school building project has been profiled to commence construction in Quarter 2 2019.

A letter issued from the Department to the school and its Design Team on 14th March 2018 outlining the projected timeframe for progression of this project to tender and construction stage and the steps involved.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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243. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Donegal; when the project is likely to proceed to construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29701/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 1 of the Architectural Planning Process.

Stage 1 is the Preliminary Design Stage where the Design Team in conjunction with the school authority will analyse all the constraints of the site, develop a preferred design option and ensure that the preferred option is the best option for the delivery of the brief. The school's design team will present their design proposals to the school and the Department for approval.

The project will then progress through the remaining stages of architectural planning which includes detailed design, the planning application and other statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. This project is included in the 6 year construction programme and is scheduled therein to go to construction 2019 - 2021. When the design stages are completed and planning permission and the other statutory approvals have been secured my Department will be able to provide the school with a more definitive timeframe for the tender and construction stages of the project.