Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1141. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the status of a new school building for a school (details supplied) in Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow; the estimated timeframe from start to completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41332/22]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that the site acquisition process for the school in question has been finalised and the permanent site for the school on Newtown Road, Moneycarroll, Newtownmountkennedy, is now in my Department’s ownership.
The permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's school building programme. The project when complete, will provide a new 8 classroom primary school including 2 classrooms for children with special educational needs and all ancillary accommodation.
My Department will shortly be commencing the process for the appointment of the Project Manager and the design team for the project. Once the Project Manager and the design team is appointed they will commence the process to take the project forward through the stages of architectural planning to tender and construction stages.
As with all school building projects, pre-planning meetings are required with the Local Authority in advance of preparing a Planning Application to ensure the highest probability of a successful planning application in the shortest time possible.
It is not possible at this time, ahead of the appointment of the design team and subsequent pre-planning consultations with the local authority to indicate when the planning application for the project will be submitted.
The school is currently located in interim accommodation on the grounds of Newtownmountkennedy Community Centre. My Department will continue to address the interim accommodation requirements for the school and will continue to keep the patron body updated as the project progresses.
