James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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196. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps and stages in a building project for a school, whether it is an extension or a new building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53968/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Further to the query raised by the Deputy, I can confirm that the stages involved in a building project for a school are as set out below:

Large Scale Projects

At present, there are five stages of architectural planning involved in the delivery of major school projects. The stages reflect the Capital Works Management Framework developed by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform.

The stages are as follows:

Stage 1 – Preliminary Design - The Preliminary Design stage includes reviewing all information provided as part of the Project Brief. Establishing and analysing all site factors and constraints which may impact on the projects viability.

Stage 2 - Design (which is divided into Stage 2a - Developed Sketch Scheme and Stage 2b - Detailed Design).

The Stage 2a includes development of the design and accurately cost plan the options agreed with the Client to a stage where the project is fully cost planned and can be prepared to lodge for statutory approvals.

The Stage 2b includes obtaining all statutory approvals, preparing a set of fully detailed Tender documents, and preparing an accurate pre-tender cost plan.

Stage 3 - Tender Action, Evaluation and Award On the completion of the examination of tenders, written authorisation of the Department must be obtained before issuing Letter of Intent and Letter of Acceptance. Once all the contract preconditions in the letter of intent have been met and the Department has given written authorisation to proceed to Contract, a letter of Acceptance can be issued. This forms the contract and is the contract and is the date for the calculation of the Contract period.

Stage 4 – Construction - All members of the Design Team are collectively responsible for the effective management of the project in order to achieve its completion on time and within budget.

Stage 5 - Handover of Works and Final Account - The Design team individually and collectively are required to effectively manage the Project, with the co-operation of the Contractor achieve a satisfactory standard of Construction, and achieve Substantial Completion of all elements of the Projects by the Contract Section/Phase handover dates and overall Contract Completion Date.

The period of time it takes to progress through each of these stages varies from project to project depending on its size and complexity.

Design Teams are appointed to progress major projects through the stages of architectural planning. In normal circumstances once a Design Team has been appointed, the project should be progressed expeditiously to the completion of Stage 2b i.e. the preparation of Tender Documents. The responsibility for the progression of the project from Stage to Stage (in accordance with the Project Brief and the Department's Design Guidelines) rests with the Design Team in agreement with the client, subject to the project timelines and the availability of funding. The written authorisation of the Department to proceed is always required prior to progression to stages 3 (tender) and 4 (contract award & construction).

Additional Accommodation Projects:

The stages are the same for ASA projects and Large Scale projects.

ASA Projects in excess of €1m, there are usually at least five interactions with the Department:

1. The Stage 1 report (initial design)
2. The Stage 2A report (detailed design)
3. The Department should be notified of any onerous planning conditions attached to a project

1. The Stage 1/2A report
2. The Department should be notified of any onerous planning conditions attached to a project