Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that the works to provide a new school building for a school (details supplied) in addition to the associated refurbishment works commence as a matter of urgent priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1949/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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A building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s 6 year Construction Programme.

A project brief has been finalised and the project will be delivered via the ADAPT programme. The ADAPT programme uses a professional external Project Manager to coordinate and drive the respective design teams on each project.

In this regard, a tender competition is in train to establish a Project Manager framework which is expected to be in place by early March. The formulation of tender documentation is underway and once the framework has been established a tender exercise will be carried out to appoint a Project Manager for this particular project.

All schools with projects on the ADAPT programme will be contacted shortly by my Department to provide an update on the status of their respective project. I wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department is committed to providing a new school building for the school in question.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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136. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason no playing pitches will form part of the planned new education campus (details supplied) in County Cork; if funding will be provided for the purchase of land for the development of playing pitches as part of this campus development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1969/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Cork Education and Training Board (CETB). I wish to advise the Deputy that the provision of pitches for training purposes is not part of the specification for primary schools, and at post-primary level the inclusion of same is subject to space availability and school accommodation requirements.

However, I understand that the available space on site with respect to the project referred to by the Deputy may allow for the inclusion of a pitch for training purposes. CETB is exploring this possibility in consultation with my Department and we may give consideration to providing a contribution towards the cost of delivering same subject to value for money and other relevant considerations.