Schools Building Projects

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 March 2018

Thursday, 29 March 2018

Ceisteanna (165)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

165. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the primary and second level school building requirements are being met in Naas, County Kildare, with particular reference to the ongoing building programme; the extra requirements at both levels pending; the schedule for provision of such extra facilities as already agreed or in the course of preparation in conjunction with local management, the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board or other bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14663/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department's Capital Programme (2016-2021) continues to address the challenges posed by the significant bulge in pupil enrolments going through our schools. This has seen a significant expansion in the rate of provision of new school places. The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed through the architectural planning process, including those schools in County Kildare.

The delivery of the new permanent school building for the post-primary school at Naas will cater for 1,000 pupils and the project has been devolved to the Wicklow/Kildare Education and Training Board for delivery.

The ETB is currently in the process of the pre-qualification of contractors stage, the approval for which was given recently by my Department.

A contractor pre-qualification process normally takes in the region of 8 weeks provided no clarifications are sought by potential bidders. A Report on the outcome must be submitted to my Department. Once the Report is reviewed, and assuming that there are no issues with it, approval will be given for the project to proceed to tender.