Written answers

Tuesday, 22 September 2020

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Building Projects

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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483. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a date has been set to publish a tender for a project (details supplied). [25475/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme which tenders to pre-established frameworks of D&B contractors.

The Decision to Grant Permission subject to 29 no. conditions was received on 14th September 2020 from Cork Co. Co for the project and the Departments Project Management team are currently reviewing these conditions and working on the preparation of the tender documents for the tender and appointment of a Contractor.

In parallel with this process, my Department is currently in the process of establishing 2 no. Frameworks of Design and Build Contractors to which Design and Build projects can be tendered. Once these frameworks are established, it is intended that this project will be tendered as soon as possible.

The Board of management and the school authorities will be kept informed as these parallel processes are progressed.

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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484. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the up-to-date position on a new school project (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25495/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The major project for the construction of the new school building for St Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin is at an advanced stage of the tender process. The Design Team has finalised its engagement with the preferred bidder and the preferred bidder is in the process of putting in place the required bond. It is anticipated that the supplementary tender report with the fully executed bond should be received in the Department shortly.

Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that construction will commence in the 4thquarter of 2020 with a contract duration of approximately 20 months.

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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485. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the up- to-date position with the provision of a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25496/20]

Photo of Pádraig O'SullivanPádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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489. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the plan to provide a new secondary school for the Newbridge, Kildare and Curragh areas of County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25556/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 489 together.

The existing Curragh Post-Primary school is a multi-denominational community college under the patronage of Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).

My Department is satisfied that the needs in the area can be met through the replacement and expansion of the existing Curragh Post-Primary school with a new 1,000 pupil school building. It is intended that the expansion of the existing Curragh Post-Primary school will also cater for demand arising in the adjoining Newbridge and Kildare school planning areas. There is capacity in the existing Curragh Post-Primary school building pending delivery of the new school building.

I can confirm that the Department is currently finalising a site identification exercise in order to technically appraise suitable sites within the relevant school planning areas, for the post primary school to which you refer. This exercise has been progressed during the past months, in line with restrictions in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic, nevertheless, my officials have progressed the exercise to the point where final site selection is imminent. Further announcements will be made when it becomes possible to do so.

Due to obvious commercial sensitivities, I cannot elaborate any further at this juncture but please rest assured that the project is being given due consideration and attention.

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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486. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the up to date position on a new school project (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25497/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The major 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. The project is currently at Stage 1 of architectural planning which entails preliminary site surveys, location suitability and initial sketch scheme.

A review in 2019 of the demand for post-primary provision in the area resulted in an increase in the schedule of accommodation to cater for up to 1,300 pupils.

The Stage 1 report has just been received by my Department. Upon review, my Department will then be in contact with the school and its design team with regard to the further progression of the project.

Photo of Pádraig O'SullivanPádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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488. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the new school building project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25555/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The major project for the construction of the new school building for St Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin is at an advanced stage of the tender process. The Design Team has finalised its engagement with the preferred bidder and the preferred bidder is in the process of putting in place the required bond. It is anticipated that the supplementary tender report with the fully executed bond should be received in the Department shortly.

Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that construction will commence in the 4thquarter of 2020 with a contract duration of approximately 20 months.

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