Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The current position regarding the schools referred to by the Deputy are as follows;

Griffeen Community College:

The permanent school building project for Griffeen Community College will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including four classrooms, for children with special educational needs.

This project is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build programme and is currently at tender stage. The Invitation to Tender issued on the 18^thApril 2023, as part of a bundle of projects issued to a Framework of Design & Build Contractors. The tender process currently takes approximately 8-10 months. Once a Contractor has been appointed, it is anticipated that construction would commence shortly thereafter.

Holy Family Community School Rathcoole:

The large scale capital project at Holy Family Community School, is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award.

The reserved specialist tender report is under review by my Department. Discussions are ongoing with the Design Team to assist in the completion of the review.

When this process is complete and subject to no further issues arising, my Department will be in further contact with the school authority.

Divine Mercy Junior & Senior schools

The joint major building project for Divine Mercy Junior & Senior schools is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design. My Department met with both schools and their Design Team in December 2022 to discuss proposed changes to the school design as additional classrooms for children with special educational needs were approved for both schools.

The Design Team submitted a revised design option for my Departments’ review, and an architectural design workshop to discuss the submitted design option was held on 26^thSeptember 2023.

The Design Team have recently submitted further revisions to the design options which are currently under review by my Department. Once agreement is reached on the proposed design, the Design Team will proceed to prepare a revised Stage 2(b) Submission including a new Planning Permission application, and other statutory applications, along with a revised suite of Tender documents.

St Thomas JNS & Scoil Áine SNS Lucan:

The joint major building project for St Thomas JNS & Scoil Áine SNS 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 Design Team are currently at the initial stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 1 – Preliminary Design, where the Design Team will assess the site and current school buildings 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.

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