The project at the school to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of architectural planning. The design team recently submitted a Stage 2(a) submission which sets out a developed sketch scheme for the project.
Officials from my Department are scheduled to meet with the school and its design team on 30th September to discuss this submission. Once the stage 2(a) is approved the design team will be authorised to seek planning permission, fire certificate and Disability Access Certificate (DAC). These all form part of stage 2(b) of architectural planning. Once these statutory approvals have been secured, the school and it's design team will be requested to indicate a timeframe for completion and submission of the stage 2(b) report to my Department.
The further progression of this project through to construction stage will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme for 2011 and subsequent years. However, pending receipt of the necessary statutory approvals and in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of my Department, it is not possible to give a more indicative timeframe for the progression of the project to tender and construction at this time.