Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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136. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she could provide an update on the plans for the site recently acquired at the school (details supplied); if the site will be used to expand play areas for the children in the school; if part of the site will be used for additional classrooms including an ASD class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5051/23]

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 Brief for this project is the development of a 32 Classroom Primary School with 4 classrooms for pupils with Special Educational Needs at St. Patrick’s National School, Diswellstown Lawn, Castleknock, Dublin 15 including Pyrite Remediation, the Refurbishment of Existing Buildings and the construction of a New Build Extension and all associated site works, including associated play areas.

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 school 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) will shortly be put in train.

An Invitation to Tender is expected to issue to the potential Design Team Consultants in mid Quarter 1 2023, and the estimated timeframe for completion of the appointment process is mid Quarter 2 2023, subject to no issues arising.

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

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

A preferred design option, including the scope and extent of works to be carried out 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.

Until the project design is at a stage where statutory approvals, planning permission, etc are secured by the Design Team, it will not be possible to provide an estimated onsite date.