Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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338. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to clarify the situation regarding funding that was approved for a school (details supplied) approximately six years ago for the renovation of its science laboratory; the reasons for the delay; when these works will take place; if she will ensure that her Department liaises with the school as a matter of urgency on this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35309/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide 1 general classroom, 1 science laboratory with a preparation area and ancillary. The project is devolved for delivery to CDETB (City of Dublin Education and Training Board).

A school building project has four points within the design and delivery process where approval from the Department to move to the succeeding stage is mandatory. These stages are:

1. At Stage 2(a) - developed design stage - before applying for planning permission;

2. Immediately where a Notice of Intention to Grant Planning Permission/Fire Cert/Disability Access Cert issues from the Local Authority with onerous conditions as these may be the subject of an appeal to An Bord Pleanála;

3. Before seeking tenders for the project;

4. Before accepting a tender/placing a contract and commencing construction.

A tender report was submitted, however, upon review it was identified that this project progressed without first obtaining the necessary mandatory permissions to advance to Stage 3 as outlined above. In addition, the timeframe since the receipt of the tenders were submitted has now lapsed. To ensure compliance with public procurement regulations and to protect the integrity of the process it has been determined that this project will have to be retendered and CDETB have been informed accordingly.

In light of this issue, it is currently not possible to give a time frame as to when this school building project will proceed to construction.