Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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541. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she can expedite the provision of the three-schools project at Hazelhatch and Celbridge, County Kildare, known as Project Liffey; if she will ensure the ongoing progress of this long awaited vital project, given the demographic pressures in the area and the resultant urgent need to expedite the proposals in the shortest possible time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57231/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school project to which the Deputy refers is devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) as part of a bundled school building programme. The shared education campus is in the bundle referred to as ‘Project Liffey’.

This project is progressing through the various stages in line with necessary governance and compliance. The project is currently at Stage 1 of the architectural design process. The procurement process to appoint the design team is ongoing in accordance with procedures set out in EU public procurement directives. The design team, once appointed, will take the project through the various stages of architectural planning and onwards through the statutory planning requirements and construction.

A Stage 2A Report (detailed design) process must also be completed before a planning application for the project can be lodged. Once this report is received, reviewed and approved, the project will then move to Stage 2b which allows for detailed design/planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents. The project will then move onward to Tender and Construction in due course.

At this point, it is too early in the architectural design process to be in a position to provide a definitive date for when this might happen. NDFA have and will continue to engage directly with the school authorities to keep them informed of progress.