Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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150. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made on the new building for a school (details supplied); and the estimated timeline for works. [45184/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The brief for the project referred to by the Deputy is to provide a new replacement school building designed for special needs pupils on a green field site. The project will deliver a single storey building, providing an 8 classroom special school and appropriate ancillary accommodation including a General Purpose room, a Home Economics Room, a Daily Living Skills room, library and resource area.

The major building project referred to by the Deputy has been authorised to progress to Stage 2b – Detailed Design which includes applications for all statutory consents, including Planning Permission, Disability Access Certificate and Fire Safety Certificate and also the preparation of tender documentation. The Planning Permission Application was received by the Local Authority on June 1st 2021. The Planning Authority has sought further information and the Design Team are finalising design proposals to deal with comments in the additional information request and hope to issue a response by the end of September.

Until the final grant of statutory applications has been received from the local authority, and the Stage 2(b) submission has been received by my Department for review, it is not possible to give a definitive timeline with regard to an expected on site date.

This major building project is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.