Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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459. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the up-to-date position with the provision of a secondary school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4672/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme.

The ADAPT Programme 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.

The Project Manager has recently visited the school to outline the process for design team appointment and the progression of the project through architectural planning and construction.  Site surveys have been carried out at the site during January 2023.

The tender competition for the appointment of the Design Team (Consultant Architect, Civil Structural Engineer, Mechanical & Electrical Engineer, Quantity Surveyor and PSDP) are currently under way.

An Invitation to Tender issued to those potential Design Team Consultants issued in December 2022, and subject to no issues arising, the estimated timeframe for completion of the appointment process is end Quarter 1 2023.

The Project Manager will shortly be in contact to update the Principal and Patron of the school regarding the procurement process and these appointments.

The project is to be delivered in 2 phases;  Phase 1 will deliver interim accommodation for 450 pupils at the site for the start of the 2024 school year, and Phase 2 will deliver accommodation for a Long Term Projected Enrolment for 1000 pupils.

Upon appointment, the Design Team will proceed to Stage 1 of Architectural Planning – Preliminary Design, where they will assess the site and prepare their initial sketch schemes for the new school.

A preferred design option, including the scope and extent of works to be carried out for both phases will be established during this early stage, to be then further detailed and developed and fully cost-planned, before seeking statutory approvals, including planning permission.

The intention is that the school will move to site for Sept 2024.  The newly appointed Design Team will be tasked with the provision of interim accommodation on the site for the start of the 2024 school year.