Written answers

Tuesday, 16 June 2020

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Building Projects

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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243. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of progress on the extension of a school (details supplied); if the school will be ready for the beginning of the academic school year in September 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11090/20]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application, for additional school accommodation, from the school authority in question. The assessment process to determine the school’s permanent accommodation needs is nearing completion. The school will be informed of the decision in due course.

In the meantime, interim temporary accommodation has been approved to cater for the schools need in the short term.  The school authority has advised that they have accommodation to cater for the start of the next academic year.

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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244. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the new school building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11091/20]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding was approved under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to enable the school in question to build 2 mainstream classrooms and 1 WC for assisted users.  In addition, 4 mainstream classrooms and 2 resource rooms to replace existing prefabs were approved.

The project has been devolved for delivery to the School Authority.  The next step will be for the school to procure a consultant. This consultant will lead the project through the various stages of architectural planning and onwards through the statutory planning process and construction stages.

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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245. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the extension and refurbishment of a school (details supplied) will proceed to the tender and build stage by granting the school rapid-build status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11092/20]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved to Dublin & Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) for delivery.

My Department is fully aware of the need to urgently progress this project. However, it is of the utmost importance that the final outcome will be the correct one for both the school authority and the pupils. In that regard, I would like to inform the Deputy that, arising from its due diligence in respect of the preparation of the revised pre-qualification process for this project, DDLETB has carried out a review of the project which puts forward an alternative option for progressing it. A report has been received from DDLETB in that respect. This report is being reviewed by my Department and due consideration given to the proposals set out therein.

In any event, I can advise the Deputy that as the delivery method for the project has already been determined, it is not possible to consider inclusion of the project in the Department's Design and Build Programme or, indeed, any other alternative method of delivery.

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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246. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the 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. [11093/20]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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254. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding progress on a new school building project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11101/20]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I propose to answer Questions Nos. 246 and 254 together.

As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school in question is included on my Department's school building programme to be delivered under the National Development Plan (NDP).

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the acquisition of a site to facilitate the construction of a new school building has closed.

This site will will accommodate this school as well as a primary school and will act as a campus arrangement.

My Department is currently finalising the accommodation brief with the aim of progressing the project into the architectural planning process. My Department will be in direct contact with the school authority at that point.

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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247. 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. [11094/20]

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 Programme. My Department has appointed a Project Manager for the ADAPT 2 Programme, which 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.

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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248. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the commencement date for the prefab replacement for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11095/20]

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 Programme. My Department has appointed a Project Manager for the ADAPT 2 Programme, which 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.

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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249. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of progress in the delivery of a new school building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11096/20]

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 Programme. My Department has appointed a Project Manager for the ADAPT 2 Programme, which contains 18 school building projects.  

A Design Team – (Architect, Quantity Surveyor, Civil & Structural Engineer, Mechanical & Electrical Engineer and Project Supervisor for the Design Process) has also been appointed for the school in question.

The appointed Design Team has commenced work on Stage 1 (Site Suitability, Site Report, Initial Sketch Scheme) of Architectural planning.

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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250. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding progress on a permanent school building project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11097/20]

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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