Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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393. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the progress and timelines for delivery of new school accommodation for post-primary schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6373/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The current status of the projects referred to by the Deputy is as follows:

Holy Family Community School (RN 91301D)

This major building project is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning – Stage 2b (Detailed Design) which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents.

A revised Stage 2(b) report has been reviewed by my Department. Further comments have issued to the Design Team who have been requested to carry out a final review of all of its tender documentation to ensure compliance with Department requirements and to submit written confirmation from each Design Team member when this work has been completed.

In order to expedite the progression of this project, my Department authorised the Design Team to commence the pre-qualification process to select a short-list of contractors and this process is currently on-going.

Upon receipt of Design Team confirmations and completion of the pre-qualification process and subject to no issues arising, my Department will be in contact with the Design Team and school with regard to the further progression of this project to the next stage of architectural planning, Stage 3 (Tender Stage).

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

St. Joseph’s College (RN 60263V)

This major building project is also at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 2b (Detailed Design).

The Stage 2(b) report has been reviewed by my Department. Comments have issued to the Design Team who have been requested to carry out a final review of all of its tender documentation to ensure compliance with Department requirements and to submit written confirmation from each Design Team member when this work has been completed.

My Department has authorised the Design Team to commence the pre-qualification process to select a short-list of contractors and this process is currently ongoing.

Upon receipt of Design Team confirmations and completion of the pre-qualification process and subject to no issues arising, my Department will be in contact with the Design Team and school with regard to the further progression of this project to the next stage of architectural planning, Stage 3 (Tender Stage).

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

Griffeen Community College (RN 76454S)

The permanent school building project for Griffeen Community College has been assigned to my Department’s Design & Build delivery programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction. Architectural Planning has commenced with site surveys and design development underway. A pre-planning meeting has been held with South Dublin County Council which will inform the design for the project.

The next milestone for the project will be the submission of the planning application to South Dublin County Council. It is not possible to provide an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages until such time as the necessary statutory approvals have been secured.

Lucan Community College (RN 70080T)

This major building project is also at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design.

The Stage 2(b) report has been submitted to my Department for review by Dublin Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB), who is the client for the project.

In order to expedite the progression of this project, my Department has authorised DDLETB to commence the pre-qualification process to select a short-list of contractors while the Department is reviewing the Stage 2(b) report.

Upon review, my Department will issue comments on the report to DDLETB and the Design Team will be requested to carry out a final review of all of its tender documentation to ensure compliance with Department requirements and to submit written confirmation from each Design Team member when this work has been completed.

Upon receipt of Design Team confirmations and completion of the pre-qualification process and subject to no issues arising, my Department will be in contact with DDLETB with regard to the further progression of this project to the next stage of architectural planning, Stage 3 (Tender Stage).

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

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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394. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of progress and the timelines for the delivery of new school accommodation for primary schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6374/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The current status of the projects referred to by the Deputy is as follows:

Scoil Chronáin (RN 19530H)

The permanent school building project for Scoil Chronáin has been assigned to my Department’s Design & Build delivery programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction. Architectural Planning has commenced with site surveys and design development under way. A pre-planning meeting has been held with South Dublin County Council which will inform the design for the project.

The next milestone for the project will be the submission of the planning application to South Dublin County Council. It is not possible to provide an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages until such time as the necessary statutory approvals have been secured.

St Thomas JNS & Scoil Áine SNS, Lucan (RN 19542R & 19676P)

The replacement Design Team Consultant Architect tender process for this project has been completed and the design team is currently working on Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design, which includes upgrading the design to ensure that new school buildings are Near Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) in compliance with the 2017 amendment to Part L of the current Building Regulations.

Arising from a Due Diligence exercise carried out by the replacement Consultant Architect a submission detailing additional works to the existing school buildings has been presented to the Department. This submission is currently under review. Upon review my Department will revert to the schools and their Design Team regarding the further progression of this project.

Divine Mercy JNS & SNS, Balgaddy (RN 20187H & 19865S)

This major building project is also at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 2(b) Detailed Design.

A revised Stage 2(b) report has been reviewed by my Department and comments issued to the school and its’ Design Team. The Design Team Consultant Architect has withdrawn from this project. A tender process to replace this consultant is in progress.

Upon appointment of the replacement consultant, a review of the stage 2(b) documentation will be carried out and the Design Team will then arrange to submit confirmations that they have carried out a final review of the complete package of tender documents.

Upon receipt of Design Team confirmations my Department will be in contact with the school regarding the further progression of this project including pre-qualification of contractors.

Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcain & Gaelscoil na Camogie, Clondalkin (RN 19855P & 19991A)

The major building project for the schools referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.

These schools are being delivered as a campus project.

The project is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design.

The Stage 2(b) report has been reviewed by my Department and comments have issued to the Design Team.

The pre-qualification process is currently underway.

Upon completion of the prequalification process, my Department will contact the schools with regard to the progression of this project to Stage 3 – Tender and Construction.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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395. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the installation and opening of the proposed autism spectrum disorder, ASD, unit in a school (details supplied) that has been in the pipeline for several years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6377/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of the tender process, for the construction of a 16 classroom school plus a 2 classroom ASD Unit, with a preferred bidder identified.

Subject to no issues arising during the balance of the tender process, it is anticipated that construction will commence in quarter 2 of 2021 and the work will take approximately 20 months to complete.