Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2022
310. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Education the status of the planned extension to a school (details supplied) to provide capacity for 1,300 pupils and a four classroom SEN base; the indicative timeline for this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60630/22]
View answerThe project referred to by the deputy has been devolved for delivery to Dublin & Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB).
The brief for this project is extremely complex. This resulted in a more difficult than usual and protracted process of preparation of tender documentation. The original brief provided for a 27 classroom school on a difficult site and it failed to attract a tender from an architect during the procurement of the Design Team (DT).
In an effort to resolve these issues and find a suitable solution, the Department along with DDLETB are in the process of agreeing an appropriate accommodation scope which will meet the current and future needs of the school, as well as being deliverable on the current school site. Department officials met the ETB onsite in June of this year and the ETB were to undertake a site survey to include levels, as the size of the extension would be extensive.
The Design Team was required to explore all possibilities for providing the required additional accommodation on site while also maximising the available play space on site. Currently this submission is under review in relation to this project.
In the context of statutory planning and procurement processes, it is not possible to give a timeframe for the delivery of the permanent accommodation at this time. However, the Department is working with DDLETB to ensure that any essential interim accommodation is put in place as required.
