Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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446. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to urgently provide funding towards addressing a major health and safety issue in the vicinity of a school in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51375/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the departments pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide the removal of existing prefabricated buildings and replacement with a two-storey extension consisting of 3 mainstream classrooms, 7 SET resource rooms and a 3 classroom base SEN unit, along with all associated facilities and site services, which includes revised car parking and set down facilities.

A Stage 3 Tender Report has recently being received in my department and is being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. All projects, including this one, will undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the public Infrastructure Guidelines. Managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall ASA program.

All traffic management issues identified and formally signed off at the pretender stage will be addressed as part of the construction phase of the project. Any additional health and safety concerns arising outside the scope of the school building project must be applied for and managed through the emergency works scheme procedures.

Upon completion of this tender review process my Department officials will communicate with the school authority regarding the next steps to advance this significant project.