Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 January 2023
355. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the status of progress and the timelines for the delivery of new school accommodation for schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2972/23]
View answerScoil Chrónáin 19503H
My Department progressed 8 Design & Build (D&B) projects (Lots 1 & 2) to construction in 2021, with a further 10 projects (Lots 3, 4 & 5) progressed to construction in Summer 2022. A further 10 projects (Lot 6) are due to proceed to tender shortly.
All of these projects are tendered to my Department’s current D&B Contractors Framework of three main contractor consortia. It will be 2024 before the next scheduled bundle of projects (Lot 7) can be tendered to that framework and into late 2024 before further projects could proceed to tender.
In order to have projects delivered at the earliest possible opportunity, my Department is of the view that the intervening period can be utilised to bring a number of projects with planning permission, including the project for Scoil Chrónain, to the level of employer-led design with a Design Team assigned to do so under the supervision of my Department’s project manager. This will ensure that such projects do not have to await capacity on the current framework to proceed to tender but rather can be progressed and actioned over that timeframe to tender outside of the D&B framework. It is envisaged that this will also serve to broaden the range and number of Contractors to which such projects can be tendered than would hitherto have been possible within the Design & Build Framework. This forms part of my Department’s ongoing strategic approach to seek to widen the pool of Contractors tendering for school building projects.
My Department’s Project Manager will be tasked with appointing Design Teams to these projects from my Department’s newly established Frameworks of Consultants with the expectation that these projects could then proceed to tender in early to mid 2024.
St Thomas JNS & Scoil Áine SNS, Lucan RN 19542R & 19676P
The joint major building project for St Thomas JNS & Scoil Áine SNS will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme.
ADAPT is an acronym which stands for the "Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering".
The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.
The Programme Manager has begun the tender process to appoint the Design Teams for projects in this Programme - (Consultant Architect, Civil Structural Engineer, Building Services Engineer, Quantity Surveyor and PSDP). The Project Manager is in contact with the school authorities in relation to the appointment of the Design Team, which is anticipated to be completed at end Quarter 1 of 2023.
Upon appointment, the Design Team will proceed to the initial stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 1 – Preliminary Design, where the Design Team will assess the site and current school buildings and prepare their initial sketch schemes. A preferred design option, including the scope and extent of works to be carried out will be established during this early stage.
Until the project design is at a stage where statutory approvals, planning permission, etc are secured by the Design Team, it will not be possible to provide an estimated onsite date.
Divine Mercy JNS 19865S & SNS RN 20187H
The joint major building project for Divine Mercy Jnr & Snr schools is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design.
My Department met with both schools and their Design Team in December 2022 to discuss proposed changes to the school design, to include for the recently approved addition of a 2 Class SEN Base for both schools.
The Design Team have been requested to provide further reports for Department review. Once the reports are received, reviewed and agreement is reached on the proposed changes, the Design Team will proceed to prepare a revised Stage 2(b) Submission including a new Planning Permission application, and other statutory applications, along with a revised suite of Tender documents.
Until the project design is at a stage where statutory approvals, planning permission, etc are secured by the Design Team, it will not be possible to provide an estimated onsite date.
Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcain & Gaelscoil na Camogie 19855P/ 19991A Clondalkin
The large scale capital project for the schools referred to by the Deputy are part of a joint campus project with a post-primary school. 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.
My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme, including the project for the schools to which the Deputy refers. The main elements of this pipeline currently involve in excess of 1,300 school building projects for delivery under my Department’s Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme. These projects are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction, most of which are expected to be either under construction or completed in the period up to 2025.
During January, my Department will be assessing overall requirements for 2023 and associated work programme and will update individual schools of same in due course.
Rathcoole Educate Together National School 20549P
The permanent school building project for Rathcoole ETNS has been assigned to my Department’s Design & Build delivery programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction.
The school and its patron body were advised by my Department in August 2021 that it would not be possible to proceed at that time with the proposed planning application for the school as South Dublin County Council had advised my Department of its intention to undertake a masterplan of the Rathcoole area, including the proposed school site. The Council has concluded the masterplanning exercise and following consultation with the Council, my Department intends to proceed with a planning application for the school on the existing Department-owned site.
A further pre-planning meeting with the Council was held on 30th June 2022 and the discussions from this meeting are informing the progression of the design and the preparation of the planning application for the school on its permanent site.
My Department will continue to liaise with the school and their patron body in relation to the school’s accommodation needs pending delivery of the permanent accommodation.
