Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 April 2023
52. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a guaranteed timeline for the beginning of the major building project for a school (details supplied); if she will estimate how long this will take; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18387/23]
View answer57. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education to confirm the contacts with the board of management of a college (details supplied) following her recent announcement giving the go-ahead to deal with the accommodation needs of the college; the details of the schedule now being followed, in view of the concerns of the college community that progress be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18428/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 57 together.
I want to assure the Deputy that my Department is working extremely hard to ensure that schools are built as quickly as possible so that children and young people have access to a physical environment where they can receive a high standard of education and feel safe, valued and nurtured. My Department has a strong track record of delivery with over 180 projects delivered last year notwithstanding the high levels of construction inflation. There are circa. 300 school building projects currently at construction which includes 40 new school buildings and 260 projects at existing schools.
The permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is a campus project to deliver a 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including four classrooms, for children with special educational needs and a 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including two classrooms, for children with special educational needs. The campus project is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build programme.
I can confirm that the project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been approved to proceed to tender. The Invitation to Tender for the project issued on the 18th April 2023 as part of a bundle of projects issued to a Framework of Design & Build Contractors.
The tender process currently takes approximately 8-10 months. Once a Contractor has been appointed, it is anticipated that construction would commence shortly thereafter.
My Department looks forward to getting this school building project delivered as quickly as possible and in the meantime will continue to liaise with the school and their Patron Body in relation to interim accommodation needs pending delivery of their permanent accommodation.
