Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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284. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will move to construction commencing on site. [6221/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 - Tender Action & Award.

A tender report was received by my Department and is currently under review. When the review is complete, my Department will be in contact with the school authority.

The project has an estimated contract duration of 22 months to complete construction.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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285. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will move to tender stage of works. [6222/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning - Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, where the design team secure all statutory approvals and prepare the suite of tender documents..

The Stage 2(b) Submission has recently been received in my Department and upon review, comments will issue from my Department for the Design Teams attention.

The Design Team will then be requested to confirm to my Department in writing that their tender documents are in order and comply with all current Building and Procurement regulatory guidelines, and Department Technical Guidance documents, before the project is eligible to progress to tender stage.

Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects with construction currently under way at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 34 new school buildings.

These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn. There are a further 90 projects at tender and a further circa 200 in advanced stage of planning and design, including this major building project for St Columba's College.

All departments, including the Department of Education, have to control the timing and scope of capital projects to remain within agreed budgetary parameters.

The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform is currently engaging with capital spending departments on future NDP allocations. As part of this, it is understood that limited additional capital allocations will be made for 2024 and 2025 and departmental capital ceilings will be established for 2026. The Department of Education is fully engaging with this process.