Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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320. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the permanent site for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34242/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The acquisition of the permanent site for the school in question, (known locally as the “Glass Bottle” site) on the Goatstown Road, was completed by my Department in June 2019. The site will provide for a campus development of the 1,000 pupil post-primary school with 4 class Special Education Needs Unit (SENU) referred to by the Deputy and a 16 classroom primary school with a 2 class SENU.

The permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been assigned to the 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.

A pre-planning meeting with the Planning Department of the local authority was held on 23 June 2021 to discuss the design proposals for the permanent school building project. These discussions will inform the plans for developing the planning application documentation.

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

My Department will continue to address the interim accommodation requirements for the school and will continue to keep the patron body and the school community updated as the project progresses.