Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
788. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for a permanent school building; the reason for the delay in progressing the project given that the school has been situated in prefabricated buildings for over 29 years; if she will indicate a timeline for the commencement and completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1928/23]
View answerThe large scale capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy is part of a joint campus project with two other schools. My Department authorised the Design Team to retender the project as the first tranche of tenders were deemed unviable. The Design Team applied for a new planning permission due to a change in the Planning Acts introduced by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in Sept 2021 which removed the option to extend a planning permission. The application for a new planning permission is progressing in parallel with the new tender process.
The Tender report was received by my Department and is currently being examined. Subject to no issues arising, it is anticipated that construction will commence in the 2nd quarter of 2023 and the project is expected to take approximately 20 months to complete.
