Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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575. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the tender process will begin for a new school building for a school (details supplied); when it is expected that the tendering process will be completed; and when it is expected that construction on the new school building will begin. [29712/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The large scale capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy is the provision of a new 600 pupil school building including ancillary accommodation.

The project was authorised to proceed to tender, upon completion of the prequalification shortlisting process in September 2022.

Planning Permission was due to expire in December 2022 and it was anticipated that an application to extend the duration could be submitted. However, due to changes in the Planning and Development Act 2000, there was no longer provision to apply for an extension of planning permission and a new planning application was required. The new application was submitted in March 2023 with additional supporting documentation requested by Dublin City Council, which was over and above what had been supplied with the original application.

A new grant of planning was received in December 2023, with a number of conditions attached. Decarbonisation measures were included in a revised project scope in line with Climate Action objectives, the design team are finalising the tender documents in line with revised Technical guidance documentation from my Department.

Department staff remain in close contact with the Design Team and the patron throughout the process.

Following a recent school visit, I want to again, confirm, that the large scale capital project remains a priority for delivery and my department officials will be in contact with the school authority as soon as the Design Team complete their review. It is anticipated that the project will proceed to tender in September 2025 with progression to site in March/April 2026.