Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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103. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the progression of schools in the mid-western areas of Dublin that have stage 2b planning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24959/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The current status of major building projects in the mid-western areas of Dublin that have stage 2b planning is as follows:

Lucan Community College (RN 70080T)

The major building project for Lucan Community College 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.

The Stage 2(b) report for the project has been reviewed and the Design Team has carried out a final review of all tender documentation and provided my Department with Design Team confirmations that this final review is complete.

The pre-qualification process, to select a short-list of candidates to whom the project will be tendered, is ongoing and upon completion, my Department will be in contact with Dublin Dun Laoighaire ETB, who are the client for the project, with regard to the further progression of this project to the next stage of architectural planning, Stage 3 (Tender Stage).

St Joseph’s College, Lucan (RN 60263V)

The major building project for St. Joseph’s College is also 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 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.

The pre-qualification process to select a short-list of contractors in 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.

Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole (RN91301D)

The major building project for Holy Family Community School, is also 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 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.

The pre-qualification process to select a short-list of contractors in 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.

Divine Mercy JNS & SNS (RN 20187H & 19565S)

The major building project for Divine Mercy Junior and Senior Schools is also currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design.

The Design Team Consultant Architect has resigned from the project and a tender process to appoint a replacement Consultant Architect is currently nearing completion.

As soon as the appointment is ratified, the replacement architect will proceed to carry out a due diligence review of the Stage 2(b) tender documentation, previously prepared, in conjunction with the other Design Team members.

The Consultant Architect will then submit a Due Diligence Report to my Department for review.

Upon review, my Department will be in contact with the school regarding the further progression of this project, including pre-qualification of contractors.

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 has been reviewed by my Department and the Design Team is currently working on a revised Brief Change Request taking on board the Departments comments. The revised Brief Change Request will also include for a Special Education Needs base for each school together with two additional resource rooms which have been recently approved by my Department.

Upon completion of the revised Brief Change Request it will be submitted for review. Upon review my Department will revert to the schools and their Design Team regarding the further progression of this project.

Loreto N.S, Rathfarnham (RN 00729F)

The major building project for Loreto NS, Rathfarnham is also currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design.

The decision to grant Planning Permission for this project has recently been appealed to An Bord Pleanala.In parallel with securing the necessary statutory approvals the Design Team will work on the preparation of tender documents.

Upon completion of the Stage 2(b) report it will be submitted to my Department for review.

Gaelscoil Lir (20531T) & Citywest and Saggart Community College (76594L)

The final Notification to Grant Planning Permission from the relevant local authority was received in March 2021 and the schools are currently at tender preparation stage. It is intended that the projects for the schools will be tendered in Quarter 4 2021.

Moyle Park College (RN 60121B)

Moyle Park College was granted approval under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2018 to construct 2 General Classrooms, 2 Standard WC’s, 1 Assisted Users WC and 1 SET room. They were also given permission to replace 2 Prefab General Classrooms with 2 General Classrooms and 2 Standard WC’s. The School Authorities received approval to proceed to the planning stage in October 2020 and the project currently remains with them to progress to the next stage.