Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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695.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the large-scale project for a school (details supplied) under the School Building Programme; when the project will advance given the tender issued in April 2023; if a commencement date is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32046/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under the Department’s Design and Build Programme and will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs on a site at Kishogue Cross, Griffeen Avenue, Lucan, Co Dublin.

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. The Letter of Intent (LOI) for the project issued to the preferred tenderer in April 2024 which allows the preferred tenderer to put in place the Bond, Insurances, and confirmations of all legal arrangements required under the Contract.

Following the issuing of the LOI, the Department’s Project Manager has been liaising with the preferred tenderer regarding the Bond, Insurances, and confirmations of all legal arrangements that are required under the Contract, including the post-tender clarification meeting.

Once all the necessary documentation and clarifications have been received, the Department will then be in a position to issue the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) which will allow the contractor to mobilise on site.

The Department will update the school and its patron body once the LOA has issued and will continue to liaise with school and its patron body in relation to interim accommodation needs pending delivery of the school's permanent accommodation.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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696.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the large-scale project for a school (details supplied) under the School Building Programme; if a commencement date is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32047/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The large scale capital project at the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which will be delivered under the National Development Plan (NDP) as part of Project Ireland 2040 framework.

The project is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award, the tender process was undertaken, and a contractor identified. The Letter of Intent issued to the main contractor 31^stMay 2024. This project requires Reserved Specialists and the tender process for the Reserved Specialists is on-going. The reserved specialist tender report is under review by my Department, when this review is complete, the authorisation to proceed to the award stage may issue and subsequently the Letter of Acceptance.

A commencement date for the project is not available at this stage, when the review of the reserved specialist tender report is complete my Department will be in a position to provide clarity on a commencement date for the project.

My Department will update the school authorities and the Design Team when there is further progression of this important project.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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697.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the large-scale project for a school (details supplied) under the School Building Programme; when the project is expected to reach the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32048/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will deliver a new 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including 2 classrooms for children with special educational needs on the permanent site at Rathcoole, Co. Dublin.

The project currently has planning permission and is, along with a number of other projects, being brought to the level of employer-led design with a Design Team assigned to do so under the supervision of the Department’s project manager. The process of appointing the Design Team from the Department’s Frameworks of Consultants was completed in September 2023 and the project is currently close to completion of Stage 2(b) of the architectural design process. Stage 2(b) involves detailed design and the preparation of tender documentation. The next stage, subject to relevant Stage 2(b) approvals, will be Stage 3 tender stage.

Projects are subject to relevant due diligence at each stage in the process, within the context of overall programme and budgetary parameters.

My Department will continue to keep the school updated as the project progresses.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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698.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the large-scale project for a school (details supplied) under the School Building Programme; when the project is expected to reach the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32049/24]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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702.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the large-scale project for a school (details supplied) under the School Building Programme; when the project is expected to reach the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32053/24]

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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879.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on a school building project (details supplied); when this project will progress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33718/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 698, 702 and 879 together.

The large scale capital project at the school referred to by the Deputy is part of a campus project included in my Department’s Construction Programme which will be delivered under the National Development Plan (NDP) as part of Project Ireland 2040 framework.

The project brief includes the phased construction of two 16 classroom primary schools with a PE hall for the post primary school on a shared campus.

The tender process was undertaken, and a contractor identified. The Letter of Intent issued to the main contractor 3^rdMay 2024. This project includes reserved specialists and on completion of the review of the reserved specialist tender report, the authorisation to proceed to the award stage issued 3^rdJuly 2024.

The next steps for the project will be the issuing of the Letter of Acceptance and progression to Stage 4 – Construction. Only when the Letter of Acceptance has issued is there a contract in place and all the contract terms and conditions apply. The project has an estimated contract duration of 20 months.

My Department will update the school authorities when there is a further update on the progression of the major project.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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699.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the large-scale project for a school (details supplied) under the School Building Programme; when the project is expected to reach the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32050/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The joint major building project for the schools referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design.

My Department met with both schools and their Design Team in December 2022 to discuss proposed changes to the school design as additional classrooms for children with special educational needs were approved for both schools.

The Design Team submitted a revised design option for my Departments’ review, and an architectural design workshop to discuss the submitted design option was held on 26th September 2023.The Design Team have submitted further revisions to the design options which are currently under review by my Department.

Once agreement is reached on the proposed design by all Stakeholders, the Design Team will proceed to prepare a revised Stage 2(b) Submission including a new Planning Permission application, and other statutory applications, along with a revised suite of Tender documents.

On receipt and review of the revised Stage 2(b) Submission, my Department will be in further contact with the School Authorities in relation to project progression.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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700.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the large-scale project for a school (details supplied) under the School Building Programme; when the project is expected to reach the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32051/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The large scale capital project at the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which will be delivered under the National Development Plan (NDP) as part of Project Ireland 2040 framework.

The project brief includes the demolition of the existing school and the phased construction of a three storey 1,000 pupil Community School with Special Education Needs Unit and PE Hall.

The project recently completed Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award and commenced Stage 4 - Construction. The letter of Acceptance issued to the main contractor Eamonn Costello (Kerry) Ltd 12^thJune 2024. Construction is expected to commence on site early August 2024 with an estimated 36 month contract duration.

My Department will liaise with the school authorities and the Design Team for the duration of this important project.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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701.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the large-scale project for a school (details supplied) under the School Building Programme; when the project is expected to reach the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32052/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Since 2020, my department has invested in the region of €4.9 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 900 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 30 new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn.

I also announced earlier in the year that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.

This level of construction roll-out recognises the priority that Government puts on investment in education, including responding to the increased requirement for special education provision.

The project for the school referred to by the Deputy when complete will provide a new 16 classroom primary school building and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs on the permanent site for the school.

The planning application was submitted to the local authority on 20th December 2023. A Request for Further Information was received from the local authority on 22nd February 2024 and the Department’s Project Manager and its Design Team are currently preparing a response. It is not possible to provide a timeframe for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages until such time as the necessary statutory approvals have been secured.

My Department will continue to liaise with the school and patron body in relation to interim accommodation pending delivery of the permanent school and to provide any updates in relation to progress on the school building project.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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703.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the large-scale project for a school (details supplied) under the School Building Programme; when the project is expected to reach the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32054/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The major project referred to by the Deputy has recently been transferred to my Departments ADAPT Programme.

ADAPT is an acronym for "Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering". The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Programme Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe during the stages of architectural planning.

The project had previously been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. This school was in the bundle referred to as Project Lee.

The brief for Adamstown Castle ETNS, Lucan comprises of the development of a new build 32 classroom primary school with a 4 class SEN base, including a GP Hall and other ancillary accommodation on a new site at Tandy’s Lane Village in Adamstown.

The procurement process to secure a replacement Design Team has concluded, and an initial briefing meeting between the Programme Manager, School Authorities, Design Team, and Department officials has taken place.

The outgoing Design Team submitted an amendment planning application and my Department were recently notified by the Local Authority that the amended planning application is granted, with 9 conditions.

My Department is currently awaiting the handover of all design documentation related to the project from the outgoing design team. Following receipt of this information and upon a due diligence review, the replacement design team will then commence Stage 2(b) Detailed Design, including the preparation of the Stage 2(b) report and tender documents.

It is not possible to provide a date for the completion of the project at this stage of the process. The Programme Manager and Design Team will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep them informed of progress.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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704.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the large-scale project for a school (details supplied) under the School Building Programme; when the project is expected to reach the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32055/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The joint major building project for St Thomas JNS & Scoil áine SNS will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme.

The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.

The project is currently at the initial stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 1 – Preliminary Design, where the Design Team assess the site and current school buildings and prepare their initial sketch schemes.A preferred design option, including the scope and extent of works to be carried out, will be established during this early stage.

The Stage 1 Report was received from the Design Team in late Q4 2023 and the Stage 1 Stakeholders meeting was held in December 2023 between representatives from the Board of Management, Project Manager, Design Team and my Department.

The Design Team and School Authorities were requested to consider comments from my Department and submit a Stage 1 Addendum Report with some revisions to the design options being presented for consideration. The Addendum Report has been received in the Department, and upon review, the school and its design team will be advised of the further progression of the project.

Until the project is at a stage where statutory approvals are secured by the Design Team, it will not be possible to provide an estimated on-site date.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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705.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the large-scale project for a school (details supplied) under the School Building Programme; when the project is expected to reach the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32056/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme as a campus project and will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs and a new 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including 2 classrooms, for children with special educational needs on the ETB-owned site at Fortunestown Lane.

A Letter of Acceptance (LOA) issued to the successful contractor on 28th of June 2024, which allows the contractor to mobilise the site. Initial site set-up works have commenced.