Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021
482. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the status of the current timeline for the installation of temporary school buildings for a school (details supplied); the way the school will be accommodated if these buildings are not provided by the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25866/21]
View answer525. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the status of a school (details supplied) with regard to securing temporary accommodation for September 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26673/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 482 and 525 together.
The school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design & Build programme.
The new school building project is in architectural planning stage. A preplanning meeting with the local authority has taken place and developed design work is ongoing. Until such time as planning permission has been secured, it will not be possible to provide a timeline for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages.
The school referred to by the Deputy will not remain at its current location for the 2021/22 school year as the space is not available and the agreement with the Gaelscoil was that the arrangement would be for the 2020/21 school year only. My Department is preparing a planning application for interim accommodation for the school on its permanent site for this September. There has been some delay involved in obtaining a necessary legal consent from an adjacent landowner but this is now being finalised and the planning application will be lodged shortly.
In the interim, instructions have issued to the Project Manager overseeing the delivery of the interim accommodation to proceed with the procurement arrangements under my Department’s new Modular Buildings Framework.
My Department is also considering contingency arrangements in the area and would hope to be in a position to fully brief the school and the Patron on these in the very near future.
