Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

403. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding is available for a school (details supplied); and when building will commence. [65677/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The school referred to by the Deputy were approved a project under the Additional Accommodation Scheme (ASA) to deliver 4 mainstream classrooms. The project is devolved to the school authority for delivery.

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:

Stage 1/2(a) - Developed design stage - before applying for planning permission;

Stage 2(b) - 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;

Stage 3 - Before seeking tenders for the project;

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

During the assessment of this project, the Department noted that this project had proceeded to the Stage 2b (planning stage) without prior approval and included accommodation outside the agreed brief, contrary to the established guidelines. In particular, planning was sought for a new school hall and ancillary accommodation, which had not been approved by the Department.

Following a review, the Department advised the school to proceed with the project in line with the approved brief. This position has been reiterated to the school on several occasions. The next steps are for the school to progress the project strictly in accordance with the agreed brief.