Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on building works at a school (details supplied). [58212/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.

The brief for this project is a New Extension and Refurbishment of the existing school buildings to provide accommodation for a Long Term Projected Enrolment of 600 students. The agreed preferred design option is now the provision of a New Replacement School Building and the demolition of the current buildings, and all associated site works.

This Major Building project for St Mary’s Academy is being delivered under the Departments ADAPT Programme.

ADAPT is an acronym for the "Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering" and uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning, to Tender and Construction.

This project is currently at an early Stage of Architectural planning, Stage 2(a) - Developed Design - design development to a stage where the project is fully cost planned and can be prepared to lodge for statutory approvals.

The Design Team submitted their completed Stage 2a report to my Department on Friday last, 18^thNovember.

Following an initial review of the report by my Department, an End of Stage 2(a) Stakeholders meeting will then be scheduled between the School Authorities, their Design Team, the ADAPT Project Manager, and Department Officials. It is anticipated that the Stakeholders meeting can be held during the first week of December.

Following that meeting and review of the Stage 2(a) submission, my Department will revert to the school with regard to the further progression of the project to Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design, where all Statutory Approvals are secured, and the Design Team prepare their tender documents.

St Mary’s Academy is part of a strong pipeline of school building projects for delivery under the Government’s National Development Plan. My Department has an allocation of €4.4 billion to facilitate delivery during the period 2021 to 2025. This strong investment by Government recognises the importance of adding capacity and modernising facilities in our schools. The use of project manager supports, such as in the case of this school, is helping to facilitate the delivery of projects as quickly as possible. This also helps to ease the burden on the school authority.

This is an important project for St Mary’s Academy. It is also an important investment in Carlow town. I look forward to it being progressed and delivered as quickly as possible.