Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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283. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline the timeline for the delivery of the permanent school build for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10545/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT programme. ADAPT is an acronym for the "Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering".

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 brief is to provide a new 20 classroom Special Educational Needs School located at Blanchardstown Road North, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

Following the recent Stage 1 stakeholders meeting in December 2024, where the Principal, a representative from DDLETB, all Design Team members, the Project Manager and Department officials were in attendance, the project was approved to progress to Stage 2(a) of Architectural Planning.

Stage 2(a) – Developed Design - is a crucial element of the architectural planning process as it is at this stage that the design is developed to a stage where it can be fully cost planned and prepared to lodge for statutory approvals.

Until the project design is at a stage where statutory approvals, planning permission, etc are secured by the Design Team, it will not be possible to provide timings or phases for construction and delivery.

The Project Manager and Design Team will continue to engage directly with the school authorities to keep them informed of progress.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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284. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the new modular build for a school (details supplied) will be completed and ready for occupation as 12 children were offered places in that school in 2024 but have still been unable to attend as the additional accommodation has not been delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10546/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The expansion of capacity at special schools is an important priority for my Department including for the special school referred to by the Deputy.

The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT programme. ADAPT is an acronym for the "Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering".

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 brief is to provide a new 20 classroom Special Educational Needs School located at Blanchardstown Road North, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

Following the appointment of a Design Team in Quarter 2, 2024 the project progressed to Stage 1 - Preliminary Design (assessment of site and location suitability and initial sketch scheme).

The Stage 1 Report was submitted to my Department on 20th November 2024.

Upon completion of my Department's due diligence review, the Stage 1 stakeholders meeting took place on 4th December 2024, with the Principal, a representative from DDLETB, all Design Team members, the Project Manager and Department officials in attendance. Following the meeting, the project was approved to progress to Stage 2(A) of Architectural Planning.

Stage 2(a) – Developed Design - is a crucial element of the architectural planning process as it is at this stage that the design is developed to a stage where it can be fully cost planned and prepared to lodge for statutory approvals.

Until the project design is at a stage where statutory approvals, planning permission, etc. are secured by the Design Team, it will not be possible to provide timings or phases for construction and delivery.

Pending construction of the permanent school building, the school was granted approval for the provision of five special education needs classrooms as well as refurbishment works to existing spaces under my Department's Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme.

The use of the Department’s Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme assists in ensuring lead in periods for procurement of modular accommodation are minimised to the greatest extent possible. To date, this has worked very well in the education sector and has seen delivery of large scale, high quality modular accommodation to meet the needs of children, particularly those with special educational needs.

The school authority have received their 1st tranche of funding and this project is currently in the pre-construction stage. The assigned Project Manager will keep the School Authority updated regularly as the project progresses.