Written Answers Nos. 401-420
401. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if the CLÁR programme for teachers with qualifications abroad will be reintroduced for the next school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13679/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra404. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education to consider expanding the eligibility period for the CLÁR route for trainee teachers, to expand the potentially eligible number of returning trainees. [13693/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 401 and 404 together.
I have confirmed that the Deputy is referring to the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation (CAR). Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of Teachers in the State.
The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015. There are five routes of registration with the Teaching Council which are namely Route 1: Primary, Route 2: Post-primary, Route 3: Further Education, Route 4: Other and Route 5: Student Teacher. The registration requirements for each route is set out in the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016.
The Teaching Council has a statutory remit and there is a provision in the legislation which allows them to make regulations for the purposes of registration.
Statutory Instrument No. 12 of 2023, the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation, which was in place has now expired and therefore the facility is no longer open. In the context of the Council's legislative remit, this provision was put in place via a Statutory Instrument (SI), and as such, the SI defines the period during which the measure is operated.
A further Statutory Instrument would be required to establish the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation for a longer period, which under the Teaching Council Act is a matter for the Council.
Since the 1st of February 2024, applicants for registration who qualified out of state will be required to apply for registration under the standard application process for out of state qualified teachers. They will be required to provide evidence of being a fully qualified teacher, including evidence of having completed induction in the country of qualification.
The Teaching Council is considering whether it can make any further amendment to the Registration Regulations to again put in place this provision (to enable overseas qualified applicants to complete induction in Ireland) as the current amendment has expired, in the context of its legislative framework, including relevant EU legislation.
402. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when her diary would allow her to attend an official opening of an extension for a school (details supplied) in County Galway. [13682/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll invitations are considered and the Minister endeavours to officially open as many new school building projects as her schedule and diary allows. Invitations can be sent to the Minister via post or by email to ministers_calendar@education.gov.ie.
403. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education when a primary school (details supplied) will be provided. [13685/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, for school planning purposes, the Department of Education divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System (or GIS) to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform the Department’s projections of school place requirements.
Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, the Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity within that particular area and its ability to meet any increased demand. Additional provision is made as necessary, where the existing capacity is insufficient for future needs.
Major new residential developments have the potential to alter the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, my Department monitors planning and construction activity in the residential sector. This involves the analysis of data sources from Local Authorities and the CSO along with the engagement with local authorities and the construction sector. In this way, up-to-date information on significant new residential developments is obtained and factored into the demographic analysis exercise. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes, at a local level, where there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
My Department is satisfied that the existing demand can be accommodated at present by the existing and growing schools in the local area. As a result, the establishment of the planned new school has been deferred.
In this context, the timing of the establishment of this school is being kept under review in the context of demographic analysis and the pace of residential development in the area.
However, in anticipation of the likely future need for this school, my Department is currently finalising the project brief for the planned primary school referred to by the Deputy.
The project will be delivered as part of my Department's ADAPT Programme. ADAPT is an acronym which stands for the "Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and T endering". The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.
The progression of this project will be managed in the context of the timing of residential development activity and the requirement for the establishment of the new school.
405. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education when the summer works scheme will be opened for applications; if a school (details supplied) will be prioritised in this scheme, as it has been refused funding under emergency works scheme, citing that the work was more suited to the summer works scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13707/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the purpose of the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is to enable individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works on a devolved basis and, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. The SWS operates on a multi-annual basis for categories of works such as roof works, window replacement, mechanical and electrical works, external works etc. and was last opened for applications in 2019.
There are no open applications for the school in question at this point in time and all future applications will be assessed on it's own merits and prioritised based on need. The Department is leading an ambitious sustainability agenda and has progressed a wide array of measures to improve the overall sustainability of our school buildings. It is a priority for Government to deliver on Ireland’s ambitious climate agenda and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes targets around the decarbonisation of Ireland’s public buildings.
As part of it’s planning for 2024 and beyond, Department officials are considering and planning for the next phases of the summer works programme and the opportunities this may create to support the sustainability agenda. In this regard, it is envisaged at this stage that, a Multi-Annual SWS with a focus on climate action and energy conservation will be the focus for the next summer works scheme to be opened for applications. The arrangements and timing of that SWS is still under consideration and schools will be updated in due course.
It should also be noted that the Energy in Education website portal and advice programme (Joint programme between SEAI and Dept. of Education) also provides schools with information on how to improve energy use practices and to reduce school operating costs while helping to protect the environment for future generations. The website can be accessed at the following link. www.energyineducation.ie.
406. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 148 of 22 February 2024, if she will provide the amounts of net surplus cash derived from school transport by Bus Éireann that the auditors and directors categorised in the accounts as profit, in tabular form, for each year from 2005 to 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13714/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) carried out an examination of the provision of school transport and completed his report in August 2017 – the C&AG Special Report 98. The C&AG report referenced a surplus in the Transport Management Charge element of the costs. This amount was held by way of an uncommitted reserve by Bus Éireann to be used solely for the purposes of the School Transport Scheme. An amount of €6.7 million in respect of the uncommitted reserve was repaid to my Department in full in December 2018.
The documentation in relation to this amount formed part of the School Transport Scheme annual reporting from Bus Éireann, as evidenced in the attached report.
Bus Éireann’s bank accounts are reviewed by independent auditors as part of the annual audit process. Bus Éireann’s School Transport scheme annual costs are set out in the Annual Statement of Account. This Statement of Account is independently audited by the Bus Éireann auditors in accordance with the 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements and this report is submitted to my Department on an annual basis. In addition, separate to the audit of the Statement of Account, the Financial Statements for the Bus Éireann group are independently audited on an annual basis.
The 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements form the basis of the payment to Bus Éireann for the operation of the School Transport Scheme. The 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements , which remain in place, have been the subject of challenges to the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, all of which were unsuccessful. There is no profit and the uncommitted reserve in the Transport Management Charge element of the costs could only be used on the school transport scheme. The school transport scheme operates on the basis of cost recovery and any surplus was sealed in the school transport scheme.
407. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education for an update on a grant for a school (details supplied); if she will ensure it is expedited without further delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13715/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers applied for funding for new windows under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS), and this was approved. Following tender approval the design of the window was submitted by the Board of Management, however this did not comply with the Department's technical guidance documents in relation to the provision of background ventilation. A revised design was submitted to my department and has now been approved.
408. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to expand the number of places in special classes to meet the demand from students and their families for such classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13718/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
In 2023, €2.6 billion was spent on special education and further progress will be made this year as an additional €113 million will be dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs.
This includes funding to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers, special needs assistants (SNAs) and funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).
In 2024, the number of teaching and SNA posts in schools will increase with an additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean there will be over 41,500 qualified and committed people in schools focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.
Over the last number of years, my department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.
These initiatives are bearing fruit with almost 1,300 new special classes sanctioned and seven new special schools established over the last four years. Budget 2024 provides funding for up to 400 additional special classes for the coming school year and 300 additional special school places.
My department engage intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This forward planning work is well underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
As a result of this forward planning, two new special schools have been established for this current school year in Cork and Dublin, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
In December 2023, I was happy to announce, the establishment of a further four new special schools for the 2024/25 school year in Meath, Kildare, Wexford and Limerick. This will bring to 11 the number of new special schools established in recent years.
Along with the two new special schools opening this school year, 390 new special classes – 254 at primary and 136 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening this current school year. The majority of these classes are autism classes and have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6.
As demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to increasing demographics and increasing prevalence rates, my department and the NCSE have engaged with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes.
My department wrote to all post-primary schools requesting that each school begin planning to provide for up to four special classes to meet the needs of children progressing from primary school. The department and the NCSE continue to have engagement with post-primary school management bodies in relation to the provision of special classes.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. The local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE's website at: www.ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list
My department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
409. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education for an update on the capital funding being provided to a school (details supplied); when will the school be able to drawdown the funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13747/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra411. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the status of the capital funding for a school (details supplied); when the school will be able to drawdown the funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13754/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 411 together.
The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning - Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, where the design team secure all statutory approvals and prepare the suite of tender documents.
The Stage 2(b) Submission has been received in my Department and upon review, comments will issue from my Department for the Design Teams attention.
The Design Team will then be requested to confirm to my Department in writing that their tender documents are in order and comply with all current Building and Procurement regulatory guidelines, and Department Technical Guidance documents, before the project is eligible to progress to tender stage.
All departments, including the Department of Education, have to control the timing and scope of capital projects to remain within agreed budgetary parameters.
The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform is currently engaging with capital spending departments on future NDP allocations and the Department of Education is part of this process.
The Department will advise the School Authorities as soon as possible with regard to the progression of the major project to the next stage.
410. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education when a school place can be facilitated for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13752/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an admissions policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. Under the provisions of the Act, school admission policies are approved by the Patron, following consultation with staff and parents of children who are attending the school. The school’s admissions policy is published on the school’s website. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in that area.
The Department is aware that there has been enrolment pressures at primary level in Kilcock and in response to that, Scoil Choca Naofa has agreed to expand by an additional eight classrooms. The delivery of a first phase of additional accommodation is complete, and a second phase of modular accommodation is also in train.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process will be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal where a board of management, or a person acting on behalf of the board of management (normally the school principal) refuses to admit a student to a school. Where the decision to refuse admission is due to the school being oversubscribed, a review of the decision by the board of management must be sought in the first instance. Following a review it is open to the parent to appeal to the independent appeals committee.
Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) is the agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. TESS can be contacted at 01-7718500 (tessinfo@tusla.ie) for assistance. More information is available on their website on the following link: www.tusla.ie/tess/tess-ews/.
412. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on a school project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13756/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question has been granted funding through my Department's Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme to establish a special educational needs base with one classroom.
The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. A Stage 3 (tender report) was recently submitted for evaluation. Once this report has been reviewed, Department officials will communicate with the school authority regarding the next steps to advance this significant project.
My Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects involving circa. 300 projects currently at construction including 34 new school buildings and over 800 projects completed since 2020 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. We continue to have a strong pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme. My Department has an overall pipeline of some 1300 projects across the school system. The current status of all projects is listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie. and this is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction. Under Project Ireland 2040, we are investing over €5 billion during the period 2021 to 2025, to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for the almost one million students and over 100,000 staff that learn and work in our schools every day.
Last year, my Department received supplementary funding to help alleviate funding pressures which was reflective of my Department’s strong delivery of school building projects particularly to support mainstream provision accommodating Ukrainian students and special education needs provision. My Department also have a large modular accommodation programme delivering urgently needed school places. The Department has always operated a tightly prioritised approach to the school building programme, focused over recent years on the delivery of additional capacity where required, and this will continue to be the case. My Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for all pupils in the school referred to by the Deputy and will in the wider context outlined, ensure that this project - as for all projects on our school building programme - is subject to the due diligence required under the public Infrastructure Guidelines. It is a challenging construction environment across all sectors (Education, Housing, Transport etc.) and my Department is also required to manage the timing, scope and cost of individual projects to remain within budgetary parameters for the overall programme – this involves constant review throughout the project lifecycle.
413. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position with the provision of a new school in County Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13764/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will be delivered under my Department's 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 for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction. The brief for this project is to provide a new permanent school for the Curragh Community College, and this project is designed to be delivered in 2 phases; Phase 1 will deliver accommodation for 425 students and Phase 2 will deliver the remaining accommodation to provide for a Long Term Projected Enrolment of 1000 students, at the former Magee Barracks site in Kildare. The project is currently at Stage 2(b) of Architectural Planning – Detailed Design, where all statutory approvals are secured, and the suite of tender documents are prepared. The Design Team lodged their application for planning permission in October 2023. The Design Team have since received a Request for Further Information (RFI) from the Local Authority in respect of the planning application. The Design Team have reviewed the RFI and will prepare their response. Until all statutory applications have been secured, it will not be possible to provide an estimated on site date.
414. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the amount spent by her Department on travel and accommodation costs associated with Ministerial visits abroad to date in 2024, in tabular form. [13802/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra* This figure may change as further information or invoices are received in the Department.
|
Travel Costs |
Accommodation Costs |
Total Spend |
|
€2,913.83 |
€667.17 |
€3,581.00* |
415. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of properties either owned or leased by her Department, which are currently vacant; the length of time the properties have been vacant for; and the location of the properties, in tabular form. [13820/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. There are currently six vacant properties (for which there are no building projects planned or in train). However, this position can evolve and is kept under review. There are currently no properties leased by my Department that are vacant.
By way of information the number of properties owned by my Department is very small. A large majority of schools are patron-owned with only approximately 9% of schools in Ministerial ownership nationwide.
|
Property |
Location |
Comment |
Size |
|
Land in Ballincollig |
County Cork |
Purchased in 2002 to facilitate a sports hall for two nearby schools. Due to budget priorities at the time the sports hall wasn’t built. It may be disposed of in the future or retained for future school accommodation use depending on the needs of the area. |
0.045 hectares |
|
Gaeilscoil Bhride |
County Tipperary |
Purchased in 1995 for Gaeilscoil Bhride but a new school was built on the existing site instead. Land is being retained should it be needed for development and educational purposes in the future. |
1.6 hectare site |
|
Aghina, Caum |
County Cork |
Purchased in 2009 to replace the existing Aghina National School but that school subsequently closed. It was offered for the ‘Housing for All’ initiative recently but was deemed not suitable. |
1.57 hectare site |
|
Croghan |
County Roscommon |
Purchased in 2007 to relocate Rathcroghan National School on the site but that school subsequently closed. It was offered for the ‘Housing for All’ initiative but was deemed not suitable at the time. |
0.6 hectare site |
|
Crinion Park |
County Wicklow |
Purchased in 2002 as a permanent site for Gaeilscoil Chill Mhaintain but it was subsequently not required for this particular purpose. Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School was temporarily located on the site from 2019 until the summer of 2021. It was recently considered by Kildare Wicklow ETB for file storage but this was not considered necessary.It was offered for the ‘Housing for All’ and the Ukrainian Humanitarian Crisis initiatives but was deemed not suitable.It may be used in the future for further temporary accommodation. |
0.6 hectare site |
|
Carna |
County Galway |
Transferred to the Department in 2007. It was offered for the ‘Housing for All’ and the Ukrainian Humanitarian Crisis initiatives but was deemed not suitable. |
0.6 hectare field |
416. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education what progress has been made in relation to a report proposing the introduction of a teacher relocation scheme from a working group established by one of the teacher unions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13884/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra417. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education if officials in her Department have met with teacher unions in relation to a report proposing the introduction of a teacher relocation scheme from a working group established by one of the teacher unions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13885/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 417 together.
My Department received a report of a Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) working group in March 2023 that proposed the creation of a national relocation scheme. The proposed scheme envisages that teachers could identify the locations that they would like to relocate to through a portal and then effectively “swap” with teachers in that location.
Officials of my Department subsequently met with TUI representatives to discuss this proposal, and a response issued to the TUI in November 2023. My Department received a further response from the TUI, and this is currently being considered.
It should be noted that an existing voluntary redeployment pilot operates that is distinct from the relocation scheme proposed by the TUI. The key purpose of the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme is to assist the Department to achieve its objective of redeploying all surplus permanent teachers.
My Department meets regularly with the teacher unions on many issues relating to teachers. The Department will continue to work intensively with all stakeholders to develop and implement creative solutions to address the needs of teachers and teacher supply challenges facing schools including this proposal for a teacher relocation scheme.
418. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education when the CAR system which allows a person to do their teacher induction here will re-open; and if not, if the closing date will be extended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13890/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra420. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education to consider expanding the eligibility period for the Covid Amendment Regulation route for trainee teachers, to expand the potentially eligible number of returning trainees. [13900/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 420 together.
Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of Teachers in the State.
The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015. There are five routes of registration with the Teaching Council which are namely Route 1: Primary, Route 2: Post-primary, Route 3: Further Education, Route 4: Other and Route 5: Student Teacher. The registration requirements for each route is set out in the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016.
The Teaching Council has a statutory remit and there is a provision in the legislation which allows them to make regulations for the purposes of registration.
Statutory Instrument No. 12 of 2023, the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation, which was in place has now expired and therefore the facility is no longer open. In the context of the Council's legislative remit, this provision was put in place via a Statutory Instrument (SI), and as such, the SI defines the period during which the measure is operated.
A further Statutory Instrument would be required to establish the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation for a longer period, which under the Teaching Council Act is a matter for the Council.
Since the 1st of February 2024, applicants for registration who qualified out of state will be required to apply for registration under the standard application process for out of state qualified teachers. They will be required to provide evidence of being a fully qualified teacher, including evidence of having completed induction in the country of qualification.
The Teaching Council is considering whether it can make any further amendment to the Registration Regulations to again put in place this provision (to enable overseas qualified applicants to complete induction in Ireland) as the current amendment has expired, in the context of its legislative framework, including relevant EU legislation.
419. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education the latest developments on the refurbishment of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13893/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project brief for the school referred to by the Deputy, includes the Demolition of the existing school building and the phased construction of a three storey 1,000 pupil Community School with classrooms for children with special education needs and a PE Hall.
The Department’s planning and building unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2024 in the context of overall requirements. The large scale capital project remains a priority for delivery, in line with the accommodation issues present at the school.
The project is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action Award, the tender process was undertaken and a Main contractor identified. The reserved Specialist tender is currently under consideration by the Department. The next steps for the project will be the completion of the tender process and progression to Stage 4 – Construction.
The Department want to reassure the school community that the school building project will be progressed and delivered. The Department will update the school authorities when there is a further update on the progression of the major projects.
