Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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360. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the income turnover requirements to tender for a project (details supplied) in County Kerry will be reviewed and reduced to allow local companies to tender for the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17373/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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For small works using the Short Form of Contract, PWCF6, (under €1m) the average annual turnover over the previous three years must be not less than 1.5 times the sum tendered for the project. These projects would be tendered under an Open Procedure where the contractor can decide in advance whether they can meet the minimum standards specified in the Declaration of Suitability for Contractors for Small Works (Open Procedure Only).

As projects under €1m in value would have relatively short durations and a contractor of modest size could complete two or more of these in a year, average annual turnover of 1.5 times the tendered sum is not considered a high threshold.

For projects with an estimated cost over €1m in value, turnover levels are calculated in accordance with the Department’s website guidance note.

The Guidance provides that for School building projects with an estimated cost over €1m turnover levels should be in the range 100% to 150% of the annualised turnover of the estimated capital value of the project. The actual percentage applied, within this range, should relate to the complexity of the project and should be based on the table below. In selecting the appropriate percentage within the sub-ranges below it is recommended that consideration should be given to the degree of complexity.

This guidance note is in accordance with central guidance on turnover from the Office of Government Procurement and relates the turnover requirement to the complexity of the project.

I can assure the Deputy that the procurement of the project to which he refers has been carried out within the guidelines outlined above.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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361. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the delivery of new school buildings (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16469/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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. All statutory approvals have been secured.

A revised Stage 2(b) report was submitted by the Design Team to my Department for review in November 2019. Upon commencement of the review my Department deemed it necessary to request further documentation from the Design Team in order that the report could be fully reviewed. The Design Team has since completed an Addendum report which has been received by my Department.

Upon review of the revised Stage 2(b) report and addendum documentation, my Department will then be in contact with the school regarding the further progression of this project.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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362. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the delivery of a new primary school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16470/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The acquisition of a zoned school site at Corballis, Donabate, to accommodate a permanent school building for the school in question is at an advanced stage of legal conveyancing. Department officials are engaging with the Landowner and Officials in the relevant Local Authority regarding the potential development of the site. I am unable to elaborate any further due to the commercial sensitivities of site acquisitions in general.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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363. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the delivery of a new school building and refurbishment of the existing school infrastructure for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16471/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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 currently at Stage 1 of Architectural planning (Site Suitability, Site Report, and Initial Sketch Scheme). A Stage 1 Stakeholders meeting with the Design Team, Project Manager, and Board of Management and Department officials was held on 9th July 2020.

The Design Team is to prepare a revised sketch scheme option for review by my Department and the Project Manager. A further meeting will be arranged at that time.