Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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106. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for delays being experienced in progressing a project to provide additional classroom accommodation at a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; if his attention has been drawn to the impact the stalemate is having on the ability of the school to meet the accommodation and educational needs of students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42386/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the Additional Accommodation project at the School to which he refers was approved to proceed to the Planning Application Stage in early October, 2019.

As responsibility for the delivery of the project has been devolved to the school, it is now a matter for the Board of Management to advance the project.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if correspondence sent to him by a school (details supplied) in County Donegal has been received; when a response will issue; the actions that will be taken to remedy the situation with a view to improving accommodation at the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42387/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The correspondence to which the Deputy refers has been received in my Department and a response is in the process of issuing. This correspondence raises issues in relation to the condition of temporary accommodation currently on site.

In this regard, the school authorities should submit an application to my Department for consideration for replacement temporary accommodation in order to address their current accommodation needs.  

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

A replacement Quantity Surveyor has recently been appointed to the project who is currently working with the Design Team members on the completion of the Stage 2(b) submission which will incorporate NZEB requirements.

The Department understands that the Design Team is currently finalising work on the Stage 2(b) submission which is expected to be submitted shortly to the Department for review. 

Upon receipt and review of the Stage 2(b) submission the Department will be in contact with the school regarding the further progression of this project at that time.

My Department has also received correspondence in relation to a suggested decant proposal during construction. The school has been advised that any proposals in relation to decant would need to be discussed in the first instance with the school’s design team and would then require the submission of a fully costed Brief Change Request by the design team to the Department.

The Department understands from the school that it intends to have a meeting with the Design Team to discuss further the proposals in relation to the decant.