Written answers

Tuesday, 26 March 2019

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Building Projects Status

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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365. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new school building project for a school (details supplied); if the acquisition of a new site for the school has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13675/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware the building project for the school in question is included on my Department's capital programme.

Officials in my Department have contacted officials in Fingal County Council for assistance under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site. Negotiations with relevant landowners in respect of the potential acquisition of the zoned post primary school site at that location is currently underway.

Officials in both my Department and the Council are working to progress matters as quickly as possible, in cognisance of the school’s current accommodation constraints.

It is difficult to indicate a timeline for the completion of the acquisition of a site for the school in question as it is dependent on the outcome of current negotiations and also on the complexity of the conveyancing process.

Due to the commercially sensitive nature of site acquisitions, it is not possible to comment further at this stage.

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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366. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the refurbishment and provision of an extension for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13676/19]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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367. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the start date for prefab replacement for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13677/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 367 together.

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 which is an innovative delivery programme first introduced by my Department in 2016. It 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 shortly. Once the framework is in place a tender competition to appoint the Project Manager for the ADAPT programme will commence.

Prefabs currently in use at the school in question will be replaced with permanent accommodation as part of the major project.

My Department will be contacting the school shortly to provide an update on the status of the project.

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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368. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of progress for the delivery of a new school for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13678/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that a building project to provide a permanent school building for the school in question is included in my Department's 6-year Construction Programme.

A site is required for this purpose and the acquisition of a proposed site is currently at an advanced stage. In tandem with this, a schedule of accommodation for the proposed new school has been devised and shared with the school authority. My Department is seeking to advance the project into the architectural planning process and will be in contact with the school authority in this regard in due course.

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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369. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the progress on a permanent school building project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13679/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe 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 approval and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory applications have been secured.

Following the appointment of a replacement consultant architect, the Design Team has reviewed the previous Stage 2(b) documentation and is currently upgrading the design to ensure that the new school building is a Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB) in compliance with the 2017 amendment to Part L of the Building Regulations.

The Design Team is also finalising the detail in relation to the provision of temporary accommodation and playground facilities during the construction of the new school building.

The Design Team will then complete the tender documents and submit the Stage 2b report to my Department. Upon receipt and review of the Stage 2(b) submission, my Department will revert to the Board of Management regarding the further progression of the project to tender stage.

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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370. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Swords area of County Dublin as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for the proposed school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13680/19]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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371. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Swords area of County Dublin as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for the proposed school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13681/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 370 and 371 together.

My Department has secured planning permission for a Post-Primary school (Swords Community College RN 76475D) on the Mooretown site in North Swords. A tender competition has taken place to appoint a building contractor to provide permanent accommodation on that site.

The Letter of Intent to the successful contractor has issued. When the documentation requested in the letter of Intent is received a letter of Acceptance will then issue and the project will then proceed to construction.

The school opened in September 2018 within existing school accommodation.

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