Written answers

Wednesday, 13 May 2020

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Building Projects Status

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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196. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the planned opening date for the new secondary school for the Blanchardstown village and Blanchardstown west school planning areas (details supplied); if a permanent site for the school has been identified; if the school will open on its permanent site; if not, if a temporary location has been identified for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4298/20]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, The Government announced plans in April 2018 for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including a new post-primary school to be established in 2020 to serve the Blanchardstown_West_D15 and BlanchardstownVge_D15 school planning areas as a regional solution. This announcement followed nationwide, demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country.

The patronage process for this new school is complete and patronage was awarded to Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) in December 2019.

In line with the policy on the use of State assets (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 and 17/16) my Department is seeking to maximize the use of sites already in its ownership and of available properties in the ownership of other State bodies, where these are considered suitable.

Identified site options are currently being considered by my Department. Unfortunately, due to certain sensitivities I am not in a position to indicate their location at this time, however, the proposed location for the school will be made known as soon as it is possible to do so.

The school will open in suitable interim accommodation for the start of the next academic year 2020/2021. A planning application was lodged with Fingal County Council on 1 April 2020 for interim start-up accommodation for the school on Department owned lands at the back of Hansfield Educate Together Secondary School, Barnhill, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 and a decision is awaited.

Photo of Duncan SmithDuncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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197. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to invest in upgrades or a new building for a school (details supplied) which is operating out of prefabs which have been in situ for the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4330/20]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.

This project is one of the school building projects on my Department’s ADAPT 2 (Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning & Tendering) Programme. My Department has appointed a Project Manager for the ADAPT 2 Programme, which currently contains 18 school building projects.

The appointment of a Design Team (Architect, Quantity Surveyor, Civil & Structural Engineer, Mechanical & Electrical Engineer and Project Supervisor for the Design Process) for the school in question has been completed.

The Design Team is currently working on Stage 1 of Architectural Planning which includes Site Report, Site Suitability and producing Initial Sketch Schemes. The Stage 1 Presentation to the Department has been scheduled for mid-June.

Photo of Duncan SmithDuncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to invest in upgrade works to a school building (details supplied) which as of 2019 has been deemed faulty following a review of the build; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4331/20]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that a remediation solution for Ardgillan Community College has been finalised. I can confirm that the process of finalising a programme plan to complete the design phase for this work is at an advanced stage.

The remediation solution will involve the existing steel frame, floors, roof and internal walls remaining in place (and being remediated where appropriate) and the external wall envelope being removed and replaced. The project will also include some changes to the internal layout which will assist the future operation of the school.

The School Authorities and the Patron body have been kept fully updated on the matter.

Photo of Duncan SmithDuncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the development of a school (details supplied) in relation to providing a new building for increasing capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4332/20]

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 included in the Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.

The project is currently 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. Statutory approvals in relation to the permanent new school build 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. Statutory approvals in relation to these are currently being prepared by the Design Team.

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 at that time.

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