Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2020
194. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the decanting of students during the period of the construction of a new school building to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2755/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents.
In July 2019 the Department received correspondence from the school in relation to a suggested decant proposal during construction. The school was advised that any proposals in relation to decant would need to be discussed in the first instance with the school’s design team and would then require the submission of a fully costed Brief Change Request by the design team to the Department. The Design Team completed a review and inspection of the decant option put forward by the school and in November 2019 determined it not to be a viable alternative.
In December 2019, the Department received the Stage 2(b) submission for this project. In order to expedite the progression of the major building project, the Department authorised the school and its Design Team to commence the pre-qualification process to select a shortlist of contractors in parallel with the Department’s review of the Stage 2(b) submission for this project.
