Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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166. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an updated timeline for the commencement of building works at the site designated in 2013 for the new headquarters building for the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that €3 million was awarded in 2013 by her Department for the construction of the head office in Drogheda; if she will provide a date for completion of this long-awaited project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23563/22]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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167. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale used by her Department’s building and planning unit to agree to a proposed change to the building plans for the proposed Louth and Meath Education and Training Board head office building in Drogheda from a two-storey to a three-storey building; if she will provide information on the comparative costs between the two-storey and three-storey option; the number, designation and title of all of the staff which the board has advised her Department will move to the proposed head office building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23564/22]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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168. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost that has already been incurred to date in the design of the originally planned two-storey Louth and Meath Education and Training Board head office building to be located in Drogheda; the estimated total final cost of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23565/22]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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169. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the locations of the main offices of each of the officials and leaders (details supplied) of the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23566/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 to 169, inclusive, together.

The Deputy will be aware that a number of design issues have arisen with this project, as indicated in previous responses, and that approximately €314k has been spent on costs related to the project including design team fees, planning and statutory consent fees, and surveys for the project. This level of cost is consistent with what would be expected to be spent on a project of this scope and scale at this stage of its development.

My Department is currently awaiting submission of a revised stage report to reflect the additional floor space being provided. This floor space was added to the project to ensure it meets the needs of LMETB into the future given recent increases in staffing numbers for the ETB. The Deputy might wish to note in that respect that the deployment of staff currently employed by LMETB, whether in its offices in Navan, Dundalk or elsewhere, and including the staff referred to by the Deputy, is determined by the Chief Executive (CE) of the ETB and is carried out in accordance with needs of the relevant scheme(s) and the availability of accommodation. However, it is the position of both the CE of LMETB and the Department that the completion of the headquarters building in Drogheda will facilitate the location of all headquarters staff in that building.

The aforementioned stage report will also address a number of other issues with the existing proposal, including meeting the requirements of the Climate Action Plan 2021. It is anticipated that this stage submission will be received in the coming weeks and a design meeting will be held shortly thereafter. Subject to any issues arising with this report, it is expected that approval can then be given to proceed with a planning application incorporating these changes. As the project has yet to proceed through the public procurement process, its value is commercially sensitive at this time. Nor is it possible at this stage to give a commencement date for construction.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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170. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has no function in the assignment, designation and relocation of staff within individual education and training boards; if it is entirely a function of the CEO of individual boards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23567/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Deputy is referring to administrative staff in ETB head office. In that regard, my Department provides each ETB with an overall staffing allocation to support ETB schools, colleges, head office and other centres of education. It is the responsibility of the Chief Executive of each ETB to recruit and manage staffing levels within this allocation, which would include assigning staff to the different functional areas after taking into accounts the needs of the organisation.