Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 October 2019
54. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the process to move a school (details supplied) to tender stage; the status of conveyancing of the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42596/19]
View answerThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has recently completed Stage 2(b) of architectural planning and has been progressed to tender stage.
A tender stage normally takes between 7 and 8 months to complete.
The estimated construction duration for this project is 18 months.
In regard to the site acquisition, good progress is being made and it is anticipated that conveyancing will conclude in the near future. There is good ongoing engagement between both legal teams on finalising matters. It is not possible to elaborate on specific details due to commercial sensitivities, however, the Department will continue in its commitment to keep all parties generally appraised of progress in the transaction.
The Deputy may be aware that the outcome of the re-commenced pre-qualification process for the main contract has been notified to contractors who expressed interest in tendering for this project. Feedback and issues arising from same has resulted in a legal challenge to the re-commenced pre-qualification process for the main contract from one unsuccessful contractor. This matter is being handled on my Department's behalf by the Chief State Solicitor’s Office.
My Department is fully aware of the urgency of this project for Monasterevin and the need to get the tendering process under way as quickly as possible.
