Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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237. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there has been progress on the signing of a contract for the site for the new school building for a school (details supplied); and the progress in relation to tendering. [44765/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has recently completed Stage 2(b) of architectural planning and has been progressed to tender stage.

The Department has recently been in contact with the Design Team and advised it of the need to get the tendering process underway as quickly as possible.

The Design Team Leader has advised that it expects to issue the Invitation to Tender to the shortlisted contractors in the next few weeks.

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

In regard to the site acquisition, good progress is being made and it is anticipated that conveyancing will conclude in the very near future. Both legal teams are working on finalising matters. It is not possible to elaborate on specific details due to commercial sensitivities, however, the Department will continue in its commitment to keep the school appraised of progress in the transaction.