Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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193. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on building works at a school (details supplied). [43810/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The large scale capital project at the school referred to by the Deputy, for the construction of a new 16 classroom school, a general purpose hall and classrooms for children with special educational needs is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award.

The next steps for the project will be the issuing of a Letter Of Acceptance to the successful tenderer, the completion of the tender process and progression to Stage 4 – Construction. The project has an estimated contract duration of 20 months.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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194. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on building works at a school (details supplied). [43811/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter the department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project will provide 2 mainstream classrooms, 2 classroom Special Education Needs base and 2 Special Education Tuition rooms. The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery.

Following receipt of the school authority's Design Team's early (stage 1) architectural design report, officials in my department advised the school authority in January 2024 to submit a revised report to address various recommendations. This revised Stage 1 addendum report was received in September 2024 and this is currently being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the public Infrastructure Guidelines. Once this review is complete my department will be in touch with the school authority directly on how best to progress this important project. All projects, including this one, undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the public Infrastructure Guidelines.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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195. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on building works at a school (details supplied). [43812/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The project for the school referred to by the is part of my Department's construction programme and will be delivered as part of a campus project which will provide a new 8 classroom primary school and accommodation, including 2 classrooms for children with special educational needs for Dunshaughlin CNS and a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs for Coláiste Rioga.

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 my 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.

Planning permission for Dunshaughlin CNS was granted on the 04/11/2020. In the event that an extension to the current planning permission is required, my Department's project manager will arrange for the preparation of the necessary documentation for same in due course.

The project is currently anticipated to progress to tender in Q4 2024 subject to relevant Stage 2B approvals. 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 liaise with the school and patron body in relation to interim accommodation requirements and provide any updates in relation to progress on the school building project.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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196. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on building works at a school (details supplied). [43813/24]

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 Design Team have recently made a revised application for statutory approvals and are completing any necessary revisions to the Stage 2b report, which will then be submitted to my Department for review.

Upon receipt and review of the Stage 2(b) Submission, 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.Department officials and the Programme Manager will keep the school authority informed in relation to project progression.