Mary Lou McDonald
Question:800. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education for an update on the promised new school building for a school (details supplied). [18898/25]
View answerTuesday, 29 April 2025
Questions (800)
Written answers
The Major Building Project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the application for all statutory consents, including Planning Permission, Disability Access Certification and Fire Safety Certification and the preparation of the Tender documentation. All statutory consents have been secured.
The project brief is to provide a New School Building for high-risk pupils as part of the Youth Encounter Project (YEP) scheme.
This project was originally to be delivered by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, and the site and project were transferred to the Department of Education in 2013. The Design Team have been progressing the project through the stages of architectural planning - Initial site investigation and design scheme, Developed design and Detailed design stages.
In the interim, the Local Authority has deemed the site unsafe, and my Department has authorised an Enabling Works Contract prior to the main project, to make the site safe and to carry out essential site investigation surveys, to allow completion of the Stage 2(b) Submission.
To allow the Enabling Works to progress in the first instance, the relocation of an ESB power line is required, and an agreed proposal and location for that ESB line has only recently been confirmed. Initial works began in September 2024, and the Design Team and Project Manager are in communication with the ESB to complete the works as soon as possible.
The initial tender to install the necessary ground works was unsuccessful in returning a contractor and a second tender process was recently launched to secure a contractor to carry out those works. This second tender process has secured a contractor which my Department has approved to carry out the necessary works, and the Design Team and school management have been notified. Until a programme for works received from the contractor in relation to this, it will not be possible to outline the timelines involved at this stage.
The Design Teams strategy for decarbonisation has been agreed in principle.
On completion of the relocation of the power line and the site safety works, the site surveys can then be carried out, to allow the Design Team to complete the Stage 2(b) report and submit it to my Department for review. The Design Team have also secured an extension to planning permission to February 2026. My Department and the Design Team continue to keep the school updated on the project.