Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The permanent building project referred to by the Deputy, will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs. The project is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build programme and is currently at tender stage.

The Invitation to Tender for the project issued in April 2023, as part of a bundle of projects for 10 schools issued to my Department's Framework of Design and Build Contractors. Given the scale of works involving new purpose-built accommodation for 10 schools, some of which are on campus sites, the tender process involves a very large volume of documentation and drawings and takes circa 12 months. Tender returns have been received and the analysis and review is at an advanced stage.

My Department is very conscious of the importance in getting these projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, delivered as quickly as possible.

Once a contractor has been appointed, it is anticipated that construction will commence shortly thereafter. The construction duration for the project is estimated at some 65 weeks.

My Department will continue to keep the school and its patron body updated as the project progresses.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects.

The project is currently at Stage 2b (planning) of the architectural process. A planning application was lodged with Wicklow County Council and planning permission was granted in Quarter 4 2022.

When Stage 2b has been finalised and approved, the next stage is tendering for a contractor and then onwards to construction in due course.

The NDFA as the devolved delivery body, will continue to engage directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.

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 Planning Application was lodged in September 2023 and the applications for Fire Safety Certification and Disability Access Certification were submitted in November 2023. The Board of Management and its Design Team received a Request for Further Information in respect of the Planning Permission application from the local authority, which was responded to earlier this month. The School Authorities and its Design Team are currently awaiting the local authority’s decisions in relation to all statutory approvals.

In tandem, the design team are completing work on the Stage 2(b) submission, to be forwarded to my Department for review.

Upon receipt, review and approval of the Stage 2(b) submission, the Department will inform the School Authorities and their Design Team of the progression of the major project to the next stage of Architectural Planning – Tender Award.

Until the statutory approvals have been secured, it is difficult to advise a timeframe for this project to progress to tender and construction stages.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The project to which the Deputy refers, is devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). The large scale project provides for an extension to the existing school, the demolition of a section of the building and the refurbishment of some of the existing buildings.

My Department approved a submission from the school authority to increase the original brief in the context of a significant increase in projected new enrolments in the area. This allowed for a project to cater for a 1,000 pupil school plus 6 special education needs classes.

A planning application was submitted to Wicklow County Council who have requested further information, which the Design Team are currently in the process of procuring the additional surveys requested. KWETB will submit the Stage 2b report for review once the necessary statutory planning permissions have been obtained.

At this stage, it is not possible to provide an accurate timeline for the project. KWETB will continue to engage directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects.

The project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural process. A planning application was lodged with Wicklow County Council and planning permission was granted in Quarter 1 2024.

When Stage 2b has been finalised and approved, the next stage is tendering for a contractor and then onwards to construction in due course.

While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the projects, the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authorities to keep them informed of progress.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The project to which the Deputy refers is part of a school campus project at Kilbride, Co. Wicklow. It has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).

I am pleased to inform you that the pre-qualification process for the project is underway and once complete and following Departmental approval, KWETB will continue with the tender process for appointing a contractor and onwards to construction in due course.

It is not possible at this time to give a date for the commencement of the project on site, but KWETB will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress in this respect.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The project to which the Deputy refers is part of a school campus project at Kilbride, Co. Wicklow. It has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).

I am pleased to inform you that the pre-qualification process for the project is underway and once complete and following Departmental approval, KWETB will continue with the tender process for appointing a contractor and onwards to construction in due course.

It is not possible at this time to give a date for the commencement of the project on site, but KWETB will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress in this respect.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The project for this school referred to by the Deputy requires the provision of a new permanent site and I am please to confirm that contracts have been signed for the acquisition of a suitable site. The acquisition is subject to the successful grant of planning permission for the school as well as Phase 1 of the proposed residential development.

The project brief is currently being developed and my Department will be liaising with the school patron when this process has been completed. Given the various stages of planning required, including statutory approvals, it is not possible to give a timeframe for the commencement of construction for this project at this time.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The site identification and assessment exercise for the school referred to by the Deputy is ongoing and a potential property has been identified.

An architectural consultant has been appointed to commence an assessment of this potential property.

Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally I am not in a position to comment further at this time.

The Department will continue to address the interim accommodation requirements for the school and will continue to keep the patron body and school community updated.