Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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622. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current timescale for opening the third primary school site with planning permission for a 32-classroom building at a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11280/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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. In parallel with completion of the Stage 2(b) documentation, the Design Team have commenced the prequalification process, to establish a shortlist of suitably qualified contractors.

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).

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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623. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale for applying for planning permission for a new primary school on a site (details supplied); if this confirms that her Department will not be seeking this site for a second-level school as per the flexibility provided by An Bord Pleanála; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11281/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The site referred to by the Deputy is situated in the Adamstown Strategic Development Zone for which a planning scheme or masterplan designates areas for development. The subject site is designated for educational use.

The current outline planning application for a primary school development does not preclude the department from developing a post primary school on the site. The department has not made a decision on the long-term use of this site.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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624. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the expected timescale for opening the fourth primary school at a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11282/25]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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625. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the interim plans in place to expand a school’s (details supplied) Junior Cycle capacity in advance of the completion of the 32-classroom building on a third named site, earmarked for an eventual doubling of classroom space; if this will involve temporary modular buildings or any type of buildings at the fourth named site; if so, the estimated timescale for such classrooms opening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11283/25]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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626. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the third and fourth primary schools at a location (details supplied) will be designed to facilitate multiple autism classrooms as well as pre-school and after-school capacity for the local community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11284/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 624 to 626, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Department has approved the progression of a large scale major project for the construction of a new primary school in the area referred to. This project is being delivered under my Department’s Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering (ADAPT) Programme. 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 brief for the school is for the development of a new build 32 classroom primary school with a 4 class Special Education Needs base, including a GP Hall and other ancillary accommodation on a new site. While it is not possible to provide a reliable date for practical completion in advance of the necessary procurement process, a grant of planning was received with nine conditions and the design team are currently working on the architectural stage 2(b) or 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 Certificate applications to South Dublin County Council. Upon completion of the Stage 2(b) report, it will be submitted to my Department for review. In parallel with completion of the Stage 2(b) documentation, the design team have commenced the prequalification process, to establish a shortlist of suitably qualified contractors. 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).

My Department is currently reviewing the school planning area with regard to the need for the expansion of the existing schools' mainstream and special education needs capacity. This includes the potential for expansion of one of the schools at an alternative site if required. This assessment is ongoing and my Department will be in further contact with the relevant school authorities in this regard.