John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a building project (details supplied) which was granted permission on appeal by An Bord Pleanála in 2021 and to make a statement on when she anticipates that building works can be approved by her Department; and when it ought to commence [27113/24]

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, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents.

All Statutory Approvals have been secured, and the Stage 2(b) Submission was received in the Department late Q4 2023, for review. The Department's Professional and Technical Team will review it as quickly as possible having regard also to the many other projects they have to manage for progression through the Department's pipeline.

I am pleased to advise the Department recently the School Authorities and their Design Team to begin the prequalification of contractors process, which will be carried out in parallel with the review of the Stage submission and the Departments due diligence procedures.

The next stage, subject to relevant Stage 2(b) approvals, will be Stage 3, tender stage. Projects are subject to relevant due diligence by the Department at each stage in the process, within the context of overall programme and budgetary parameters.

Department officials will continue to keep the school authorities updated on progress and next steps.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the Project Boyne school building initiative; how this bundle is being progressed; if it is to be split, how that will proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27128/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the six large scale projects being delivered for Project Boyne will be delivered across schools in counties Carlow, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow by the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) on a devolved basis for the Department.

These school building projects are flagship projects in their area and will provide new and modernised high-quality permanent facilities catering for over 5,750 students. This will transform the education infrastructure for these school communities both now and in the decades ahead, enabling students to benefit from purpose-built state of the art facilities.

The Department has issued authorisation to NDFA for the completion of the remaining work on the preparation of tender documents required for public procurement of building contractors for all six schools for the end of the year.

Given the scale of the 6 projects involved, the procurement strategy involves this being done for the end of the year through two bundles. One bundle involves Coláiste Chraobh Abhann in Kilcoole, Cross and Passion College in Kilcullen and the Patrician Secondary School in Newbridge. The other bundle involves the Franciscan College in Gormanston, Presentation De La Salle College in Bagenalstown and St. Mary’s College in Naas. Both bundles are very important projects for delivery and the procurement strategy is aimed at delivering these flagship projects in an effective and efficient manner that reflects the scale of investment involved. The NDFA will be engaging directly with the individual schools in regards to progressing these very important projects.

The status of all projects in the pipeline, including those at tender stage, is set out by County at (www.gov.ie) and is updated on a regular basis.

The delivery of these projects builds on the very good progress we are making in providing new and modernised facilities at schools throughout the country under the rollout of the Government’s National Development Plan.