Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 July 2019
268. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of pre-tender qualification and site acquisition for a major school building project (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30862/19]
View answerThe major building project for this school is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained.
Following a legal challenge, authorisation to re-commence the pre-qualification process issued to the Design Team and school. This advert has recently closed and the Design Team is currently in the process of compiling a shortlist of contractors for tender stage.
When the pre-qualification process for the main contract and reserved specialists contracts is complete, the project will then be progressed to tender stage.
A tender stage normally takes between 7 and 8 months to complete.
Regarding the site acquisition, legal representatives for both parties are working together with a view to concluding the conveyancing. There continues to be progress on foot of close and intense engagement from all parties. A number of amendments have been agreed between the legal representatives for the vendor and the CSSO. These amendments have been incorporated into the draft Contract for Sale along with a number of other suggested amendments proposed for the sake of completeness. The CSSO and the Vendor’s solicitor will, after having had an opportunity to consider all the points, arrange to meet with a view to finalising matters.
