Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme and will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including 6 classrooms, for children with special educational needs.

The project forms part of a major campus project on the Clonturk site in Whitehall which will also deliver a second 1,000 pupil post-primary school building and a new 8 classroom primary school building when complete.

The project is in early architectural planning which involves site surveys, school design stages and the preparation of statutory applications. The project will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme which 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 Programme Manager was appointed in Q3 2023 and it is anticipated that the tender process for multi-disciplinary design team consultants will commence in Q1 2024 and complete in Q2 2024, subject to no issues arising.

It is not possible to provide a timeframe for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages until such time as the necessary statutory approvals have been secured.

My Department will liaise with the school and its patron body in relation to the progression of the project.