Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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74. 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; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45479/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The large scale capital project for 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.

The project is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning Stage 3 - Tender Action and Award. The next step for the project will be the authorisation to proceed to the award stage on completion of the Reserved Specialists tender report review.

We will be in contact with the school authority when this review is complete.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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75. 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. [45480/24]

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 progressing to the 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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76. 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; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45481/24]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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80. 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. [45485/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 80 together.

The large scale capital project for the schools 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.

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

The project is at Architectural Planning Stage 4 - Construction.

Works commenced on site in September 2024 with an estimated contract duration of 20 months.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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77. 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. [45482/24]

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, where the Design Team secure all statutory approvals and prepare the suite of tender documents.

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 was held in September 2023.

The Design Team have submitted further revisions to their design options which are under ongoing review. Department officials have recently visited the school site and comments will shortly issue to the Design Team for their consideration.

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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78. 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. [45483/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The large scale capital project at the school referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 4 - Construction.

Works commenced on site in August 2024 with an estimated contract duration of 36 months.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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79. 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. [45484/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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 (RFI) was received from the local authority on 22nd February 2024. The Department’s Project Manager and its Design Team are currently finalising a response to the RFI for submission to the local authority.

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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81. 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. [45486/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The major project referred to by the Deputy will be delivered under 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 is for 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.

A replacement Design Team has been appointed, and an initial briefing meeting between the Programme Manager, School Authorities, Design Team, and Department officials took place in April 2024.

The outgoing Design Team had submitted an amended planning application to the Local Authority, and grant of planning has been received, with 9 conditions.

My Department has received the handover of all design documentation related to the project from the outgoing design team. Following receipt of this information and a due diligence review, the replacement design team have commenced Stage 2(b) Detailed Design, which will include the preparation of the Stage 2(b) report and tender documents. The Design Team have also submitted the Fire Safety Certificate and Disability Access Cert applications to South Dublin County Council. Upon completion of the Stage 2(b) report, it will be submitted to my Department for review.

The Programme Manager and Design Team will continue to engage directly with the school authority to keep them informed of progress during Stage 2(b).

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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82. 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. [45487/24]

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 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.

Following the Stage 1 Stakeholders meeting, the Stage 1 Addendum report was received from the Design Team.

The Department have recently completed their due diligence review and have issued comments to the Design Team for their consideration.

Once the Design Team have reverted to the Department in relation to the comments on the Stage 1 Addendum report, the school authorities will be advised of the further progression of the project.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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83. 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. [45488/24]

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 allowed the contractor to mobilise to site. The works on site are progressing and the project is being delivered on a phased basis.