Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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170. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the planned works for school buildings (details supplied); the current stage each project is at; and the expected timeline for completion. [17210/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The first school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department's pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide 4 general classrooms, 1 construction room and a 2 classroom special educational needs base.

The project is devolved for delivery to the school authority. The revised Stage 1 report is currently being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. All projects, including this one, are subjected to the required due diligence as specified in the Department's infrastructure guidelines. Managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall Additional School Accommodation programme.

My Department will continue to engage with the school authority to provide practical advice and assistance for the progression of this much needed project.

The second school project referred to by the Deputy is devolved for delivery to Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB).

The project is currently at Stage 2a (the developed design stage) of the architectural process. As part of this process, a Stage 2a report will be prepared and submitted by the project Design Team. Once this information is received, reviewed and approved by my Department, the project will progress to Stage 2b. This stage allows for detailed design/planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents. The project will then progress to the tender stage and onwards to construction is due course.

While it is not currently possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project, LOETB will continue to engage directly with the school authority to keep them informed of progress on this important project.