Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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110. 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. [45435/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The status of major building projects is as follows:

Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole (RN 91301D)

This project 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. All statutory approvals have been secured. The Stage 2(b) report has been reviewed and the Design Team is currently carrying out a final review of its tender documentation and will arrange to submit Design Team Confirmations as soon as this exercise is complete. The Design Team has recently completed the pre-qualification process. Upon receipt of Design Team Confirmations 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. Subject to no issues arising a tender normally takes between 6 and 8 months to complete.

St. Joseph's College, Lucan (RN 62063V)

This project is also 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 shortlist of contractors has been completed. Upon receipt of Design Team Confirmations 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. Subject to no issues arising, a tender normally takes between 6 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.

An application for Planning Permission in respect of the works was submitted to the relevant Local Authority in June 2021. A Request for Further Information (RFI) has being received and my Department’s Project Manager are actively working on the response to the RFI which will issue as soon as possible.

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 project is also 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 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 has been carried out. The pre-qualification process, to select a shortlist of candidates to whom the project will be tendered, is nearing completion. Upon completion, my Department will be in contact with the school Patron with regard to the further progression of this project to the next stage of architectural planning, Stage 3 Tender Stage. Subject to no issues arising, a tender normally takes between 6 and 8 months to complete.