Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy 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 in April 2023, as part of a bundle of projects for 10 schools issued to the 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. Tender returns have been received and the analysis and review is at an advanced stage.

The due diligence by the Department is a critical part of the overall completion of the Stage 3 process and is critical to ensuring quality and value for money, and that projects are progressed within overall programme parameters.

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.