Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2021

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Building Projects

Photo of Michael LowryMichael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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282. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 405 of 1 June 2021, regarding the position of a building project at a school (details supplied), if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the design and location of this building project which was submitted by the school has not yet been approved by her Department; the reason for the delays in approving the design and location submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35808/21]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding was approved under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2019 to enable the school in question to build one mainstream classroom with ensuite toilets. Approval to combine a summer works project for a roof upgrade along with enabling works to provide toilets for this September has also been granted as part of this project.

The project has been devolved for delivery to the School Authority and a consultant has been procured. A stage 1/2A report for this project was submitted but, following a review of same, officials in my Department wrote to the school requiring the provision of an amended report. This is currently awaited.

Photo of Johnny GuirkeJohnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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283. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding has been allocated to the relocation of a school (details supplied) to the Johnstown, Navan education campus; if so, when it is envisaged that construction may commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35828/21]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at tender stage with a closing date for receipt of tenders of early July.

Subject to no issues arising during the balance of the tender process it is envisaged that the project will commence on site in Quarter 4 of 2021.

Photo of Neale RichmondNeale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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284. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (details supplied) moving to its permanent site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35833/21]

Photo of Neale RichmondNeale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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285. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (details supplied) moving to its permanent site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35834/21]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together.

The acquisition of the permanent site for the schools 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 a 1,000 pupil post-primary school with 4 class Special Education Needs Unit (SENU) and a 16 classroom primary school with a 2 class SENU.

The permanent school building project for the schools 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 23rdJune 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 schools and will continue to keep the patron body and the school community updated as the project progresses.

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