Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

402. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the new Owenabue Educate Together primary school for Carrigaline, County Cork; the stage this project is currently at; and the remaining stages and estimated timeline for construction. [37290/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The major project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Departments ADAPT Programme.

The ADAPT programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe during the stages of architectural planning.

The brief for Owenabue Educate Together National School is the development of a new 16 classroom Primary School and 5 classes for children with Special Educational Needs at Janeville, Carrigaline, Co. Cork.

The project is currently at Stage 1 - Preliminary Design (assessment of site and location suitability and initial sketch scheme).

As part of the Stage 1 process the Design Team submit a Stage 1 Report to my Department. A preferred design option, including the scope and extent of works to be carried out form part of this report.

The Stage 1 Report was received in the Department in January 2025 and upon completion of the Departments due diligence review, the Stage 1 stakeholders meeting took place on 24th March 2025 where the Principal, a representative from Educate Together, all Design Team members, the Project Manager and Department officials were in attendance. The meeting concluded with agreement that the Design Team would explore further design layout options.

Further to this on the 30th of April an architectural workshop between the Design Team Architect and the Department Senior Architect.

The Department are currently awaiting the submission of a full Design Team Stage 1 Addendum Report.

As part of the NDP Review process, all departments, including my department, are currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation with respect to NDP allocations for the period 2026-2030.

It is expected that there will be clarity on these allocations over the course of the summer period, and this will allow my department to plan its capital investment programme for the 2026 to 2030 period in line with prioritised needs and reflecting, as appropriate, wider Government priorities.

The progression of prioritised individual projects to meet the most urgent needs in the 2026 to 2030 period that cannot be met through existing capacity across schools in the local area will be considered on a rolling basis from Autumn onwards after the NDP allocations are finalised.