James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which primary and second level school building requirements are being met in Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49726/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of large-scale projects, including those in Naas, County Kildare, being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website, www.education.ieand this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

I also wish to advise the Deputy of the announcement earlier this year of plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019-2022), including a new primary school to provide additional school capacity in Naas, County Kildare. This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by the Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country. The four year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.

The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, if required, for schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. In this regard I can confirm my Department has reecived applications for such funding from 3 schools in Naas, Co Kildare which has resulted in the sanction of grant-aid towards the provision of accommodation for mainstream and special education needs at both primary and post primary level.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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146. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the tendering of a school (details supplied); when he expects the tendering process to be finalised and a contractor appointed; if he has ringfenced funding for this school in Budget 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49753/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, 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.

In June 2018, the school and its design team was authorised to commence the prequalification process to select a shortlist of contractors for tender stage. The pre-qualification notice was published on e-tenders on 7th September 2018 with a deadline for receipt of submissions of 1st October 2018.

The Design Team has confirmed that it is currently assessing the expressions of interest. A pre-qualification report will be compiled and forwarded to the Department once this exercise is complete.

Once the pre-qualification process is complete the Department will be in contact with the Board of Management with a view to progressing the project to tender stage.

A tender stage normally takes between 7 and 8 months to complete.