John Paul Phelan
Question:708. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education the status of the new building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13190/23]
View answerTuesday, 21 March 2023
Questions (708)
Written answers
The 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 brief 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 engaged 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 recent months, arising from which the ETB was to undertake a site survey to include levels, due to the size of the potential extension.
The Design Team was requested to explore all possibilities for providing the required additional accommodation on site while also maximising the available play space available. Currently, a submission in this regard is under review in the Department.
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.